Anthropogenic forces are human activities that change the planet and influence climate. The biggest anthropogenic force of current concern is that of carbon dioxide levels rising due to fossil fuel combustion emissions. Other factors of concern are: aerosal emissions, land use, ozone depletion, animal agriculture, and deforestation. Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, and thus raise the global temperature, are often called greenhouse gases. While not all greenhouse gases enter the environment because of man there are many that do. Carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere through the burning of fossil fuels (oils, coal, natural gas), solid waste, trees and wood products, and also as a result of other chemical reactions such as the manufacturing of cement. Methane is also released during the production and transportation coal, natural gas, and oil, as well as from the decay of organic waste in municipal landfills, and released from livestock. Nitrous oxide, and Hydrofluorocarbons are also released as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels and industrial processes. This picture of the refiners in Edmonton illustrates the release of detrimental gases into the environment, while I can not vouch for the specifics of the gas, clearly they cannot be all positive.
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