Final answer:
Global climate is influenced by a range of factors, including aerosols, clouds, land surface changes, Milankovitch cycles, plate tectonics, and solar variability. While these factors contribute to the Earth's climate patterns, recent global warming cannot be explained by solar variability alone.
Step-by-step explanation:
The global climate is influenced by several factors, including aerosols, clouds, land surface changes, Milankovitch cycles, plate tectonics, and solar variability. Aerosols can absorb or reflect sunlight, leading to warming or cooling effects. Clouds impact how much sunlight is reflected back into space or absorbed by the Earth, influencing climate patterns.
Land surface changes, such as deforestation or urban development, alter the albedo (reflectivity) of Earth's surface, thus affecting the climate. Milankovitch cycles, the long-term changes in Earth's orbit, axial tilt, and precession, affect the distribution and intensity of solar radiation received by Earth, thus driving long-term climate changes such as ice ages and interglacial periods. Plate tectonics shape Earth's continental arrangement, which influences ocean currents and atmospheric circulation patterns, thus impacting climate.
Solar variability, while it's been consistent in the mid-20th century, can influence climate through factors such as changes in ultraviolet radiation. However, it's not the driver of the recent global warming trend. Moreover, volcanic eruptions contribute to aerosols in the atmosphere, which can have cooling effects by reflecting sunlight.