Final answer:
One natural factor that causes long-term climate change is Earth's orbital patterns, including Milankovitch cycles, along with plate tectonics, changes in solar output, and volcanic activity. However, these occur over extended periods and do not fully explain the rapid warming observed recently, which is mainly due to human activities and the resultant increase in greenhouse gases.
Step-by-step explanation:
Natural Factors Causing Long-Term Climate Change
One natural factor that causes long-term climate change is the Earth's orbital patterns, known as Milankovitch cycles. These cycles result from variations in the Earth's orbit around the sun, affecting the distribution of solar energy received by the planet and thus influencing long-term climate trends. Other significant natural factors include plate tectonics and the shifting positions of continents, which can alter ocean currents and atmospheric circulation patterns; changes in solar output, which can increase or decrease the amount of energy Earth receives; and volcanic eruptions that can inject large amounts of particulate matter and sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, leading to short-term cooling but also long-term effects on climate through the increase in atmospheric greenhouse gases.
However, these natural causes of climate change occur over very long periods and do not account for the rapid warming observed in recent years. Instead, the increase in greenhouse gases from human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels, is the main driver of recent climate change. The scientific consensus confirms that alterations in the carbon cycle by humans are mainly responsible for the ongoing changes to the global climate, significantly enhancing the greenhouse effect.