Final answer:
Scientific research overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that Earth is currently in a warming trend, predominantly due to the increase in greenhouse gases from human activities rather than nearing a natural period of global cooling.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that Earth's climate should be nearing a period of global cooling is rebutted by extensive scientific research. Over the past several decades, studies show a significant rise in Earth's average temperature, linked to human activities, primarily the emission of greenhouse gases. This is in contrast to natural historical patterns of the Earth's climate, which has seen periods of both warming and cooling, including ice ages.
Since scientists cannot directly measure past climates, they rely on paleoclimatology evidence like ice cores, tree rings, and ocean sediments to understand historical climate changes. These data indicate that the climate changes are cyclical and influenced by various factors, including Earth’s orbit and solar activity. However, the current warming trend deviates from these natural cycles and is strongly correlated with industrialization and the rise of greenhouse gases.
Despite past ice ages and natural fluctuations in climate, the overwhelming consensus among climate scientists is that the current climate trajectory is warming. This is supported by analyses from ice-core samples, glacial studies, and tree rings, among other methods. According to an overwhelming majority of climate scientists, as well as endorsements from esteemed academies of science, the recent warming is anthropogenic—caused by human activities.