How does increased atmospheric CO2 relate to climate change?

Increased atmospheric CO2 is a major contributor to the greenhouse effect, which plays a crucial role in climate change. The greenhouse effect occurs when certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide, trap heat from the sun. This leads to a rise in global temperatures since the heat that would normally escape back into space is instead retained by these gases.

As more CO2 is released into the atmosphere through activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, its concentration increases, thereby enhancing the greenhouse effect. This results in a variety of changes in the climate system, including altered weather patterns, increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and shifts in ecosystems.

While the other choices suggest alternative relationships, they do not capture the fundamental way in which CO2 impacts climate. For example, CO2 does not cause ice cap growth; instead, it contributes to ice melt as temperatures rise. Its effects extend beyond just ocean temperatures, influencing the entire climate system, and it certainly has significant impacts on weather patterns, contrary to the suggestion that it does not.