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a) Earth-Sun relationships
This leads to what is called astronomical causes of climate change.
b) Changes in solar output
This refers to changes in the amount of solar radiation absorbed outside the earth’s atmosphere. There are short term, medium term and long term cyclical fluctuation in the amount of solar output with cycles of 11 years, 22 years, 44 years etc. this is due to changes in the sunspots (these are dark, circular indentations that occur on the surface of the earth). The visible portion of the sun is called the photosphere and is at about 60000 k but the sunspots are cool at a temperature of about 46000 k.
c) Changes due to atmospheric variations
Another theory of natural climate change has been attributed to natural changes in the atmospheric conditions. This concerns variations in the transmissivity and absorptivity of the atmosphere. Natural factors such as volcanic activity (which injects large quantities of dust and fine particles into the atmosphere) affects atmospheric transmissivity and absorptivity.
d) Movement of continents
The relative movement of continents and oceans has been linked with climatic changes. This is because changes in the distribution of land and oceans would bring about a change in energy distribution and hence general atmospheric circulation and climate because of the well-known differences in the thermal characteristics of land and water surfaces.
e) Variations in heat stored by oceans
Natural variations in sea surface temperatures have been linked to changing circulation patterns and weather anomalies e.g. El Nino Southern Oscillation ( ENSO) and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)
francis1897 answered the question on October 5, 2022 at 11:23
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