Are we in a natural cycle?
Is the Sun causing global warming?
The Sun is Earth's main energy source, so it is a natural first suspect. Here is why that does not hold up.
Why it sounds plausible
The Sun is Earth's main energy source, so it is a natural first suspect.
The simple answer
The recent warming pattern does not match solar change.
The fuller explanation
If the Sun were the main cause, the whole atmosphere would warm and the pattern would look different. Instead, solar output has been flat to slightly lower since the mid-twentieth century while temperatures rose, and the upper atmosphere is cooling. That fits greenhouse gases, not the Sun.
Bottom line
The Sun affects climate, but it does not explain modern warming.
Quick answers
Frequently asked
The Sun affects climate, but it does not explain modern warming.
The recent warming pattern does not match solar change.
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