Final answer:
Climate models support the conclusion that rising CO2 levels, primarily from fossil fuel use and deforestation, are the main cause of global warming. They use historical data to establish a correlation between CO2 and temperature rise that cannot be explained by natural factors alone. These models predict significant temperature increases in line with CO2 concentration growth.
Step-by-step explanation:
Climate models can demonstrate that CO2 is primarily responsible for the warming observed during the 20th and 21st centuries through a process known as the greenhouse effect. Mathematical models predict temperature increases as a result of rising CO2 levels, originating mainly from the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation. These climate models incorporate historical data from various sources, such as ice cores, tree rings, and ocean sediments, which show a correlation between increased atmospheric CO2 concentrations and rising global temperatures. This relationship is further strengthened by the fact that natural factors alone, such as Milankovitch cycles, cannot account for the rapid increase in temperature post the Industrial Revolution.
Scientific consensus holds that the significant increase in atmospheric CO2 from pre-industrial levels of 280 parts per million (ppm) to levels exceeding 400 ppm is linked to human activities. The data supports a direct correlation where as carbon dioxide rises, the global temperature follows suit. The range of temperature increase projected by these models varies due to complexities in the climate system but underscores the dominant role of CO2 in driving recent climate change.