Final answer:
A thermal high is caused by the cooling of the Earth's surface, while a thermal low is caused by its heating. Greenhouse gases and human-made changes such as aerosols contribute to climate change by altering the heat retained by Earth's atmosphere. Variations in solar energy and surface albedo also affect climate and weather patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
A thermal high near the surface is primarily caused by the cooling of the Earth's surface which leads to the air above it sinking and increasing in pressure. Conversely, a thermal low is caused by the heating of the Earth's surface, which causes air to expand and rise, leading to lower pressure at the surface. These phenomena are the result of temperature changes rather than pressure differences, humidity changes, or human activities.
Regarding climate influencers, apart from greenhouse gases, other manmade changes such as increases in near-surface ozone and aerosols are also impacting climate by affecting the albedo of surfaces and enhancing heat retention. Changes in the greenhouse effect are significant as greenhouse gases raise air temperatures by absorbing infrared radiation, not by absorbing visible light or creating heat through chemical reactions with pollutants.
Climate change and regional weather phenomena also involve variations in the sun's energy reaching Earth and changes in the reflectivity, or albedo, of Earth's atmosphere and surface. Moreover, increasing humidity can lead to changes in evaporation rates, indirectly affecting weather patterns and surface temperatures.