The cause of global warming has been the subject of debate among scientists and experts for many years. In fact, Svante August Arrhenius, a Swedish chemist, first predicted that global warming would occur in 1896 (Harris 16). Researchers who agree that its origin is natural insist that the greenhouse effect has many natural causes. Others agree that the cause of Earth's temperature increase is only part of an ongoing cycle. These researchers say that solar activity plays a huge role in the problem of global warming. Therefore, based on the greenhouse myth, cyclical models, and research on solar activity, global warming is not a man-made dilemma. When greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, in the same way that glass in greenhouses traps heat, called the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide are three of the main greenhouse gases. People fear that an extreme increase in these gases could have negative effects on nature and society. These changes can lead to drastic floods and droughts, increased insect numbers, rising sea levels, and a redistribution of precipitation rates. Changes can also harm the health of society and hinder economic growth (Hopwood & Cohen 1). Carbon dioxide is the main cause of the greenhouse effect. It is an odorless gas that assimilates heat from the sun. Fermentation, the slow breakdown of sugar-containing elements, is one of the causes of carbon dioxide emissions in nature. An example of this process includes the fermentation of grapes into wine (Harris 6). Carbon dioxide is released into the air when humans breathe; this is obviously not something people can stop doing (Hopwood & Cohen 3). Each year, more than 130 million tons of carbon dioxide are released into the air by volcanic...... middle of paper ...... nature. Works Cited Carlisle, John. The sun is responsible for global warming. National Policy Analysis, June 1998. Website. February 13, 2011. Harris, Jack. The greenhouse effect. New York: Crestwood House, 1990. Print. Milankovitch cycles and glaciation. Montana Education. Website. February 9, 2011. Nick Hopwood and Jordan Cohen. Greenhouse gases and society. March 8, 1998. Website. February 8, 2011. Schewe, Phil, Riordon, James and Stein, Ben. Physics news update. American Institute of Physics, June 19, 2003. Website. February 9, 2011. Sources and emissions. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, June 22, 2010. Website. February 9, 2011. Volcanic gases and their effects. USGS, June 11, 2010. Website. February 8, 2011. Wheldon, Julie. (March 5, 2007). According to scientists, the greenhouse effect is a myth. prince.org. Retrieved from http://prince.org/msg/105/219920