Final answer:
Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, have contributed to an increase in global temperatures. These activities release greenhouse gases that trap heat from the sun, leading to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Land use changes and urbanization also impact local temperature patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The increase in temperature on Earth is primarily caused by human activities. The burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and petroleum, releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. Other human activities, such as deforestation and industrial processes, also add to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
These increased greenhouse gas emissions trap heat from the sun, leading to a rise in global temperatures. The impact of human activity on temperature change can be seen both locally and globally. For example, the burning of fossil fuels for energy production and transportation releases carbon dioxide, leading to higher temperatures in urban areas.
In addition to directly affecting temperature, human activities can also influence other factors that contribute to temperature change. For instance, deforestation reduces the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by trees, further exacerbating the greenhouse effect. Likewise, changes in land use and urbanization can alter local temperature patterns through changes in surface reflectivity and heat storage capacity.