Which of the following has influenced the climate of earth

Options

A. increasing concentration of atmospheric oxygen
B. Decreasing amount of atmospheric oxygen
C. increasing amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide
D. decreasing amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Climate Influence**: The question asks about factors that have influenced the climate of Earth. Climate is affected by various natural and anthropogenic (human-caused) factors.

2. **Identifying Major Influences**: The primary influence on Earth's climate in recent times is global warming, which is largely driven by human activities.

3. **Global Warming Explained**: Global warming refers to the increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere.

4. **Greenhouse Gases**: The main greenhouse gases contributing to global warming include:
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) - contributes approximately 60% to the greenhouse effect.
- Methane (CH4) - contributes around 20%.
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - contribute about 14%.
- Nitrous Oxide (N2O) - contributes around 6%.

5. **Sources of Carbon Dioxide**: The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide is primarily due to:
- Emissions from automobiles.
- Burning of fossil fuels for energy.
- Combustion processes in industries.
- Natural events like forest fires and volcanic eruptions.

6. **Conclusion**: Based on the information, the increasing amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide is the major factor that has influenced the climate of Earth. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is option number three, which states that the increasing amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide has influenced the climate of Earth.

**Final Answer**: The increasing amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide is the factor that has influenced the climate of Earth.

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