Scientists studying climate change compiled the following data summarizing average atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2\text{CO}_2CO2) concentrations and global air temperature anomalies relative to a mid-20th-century baseline:
| Time Period | Atmospheric CO2\text{CO}_2CO2 range (ppm) | General CO2\text{CO}_2CO2 trend | Temperature anomaly range (∘C^\circ\text{C}∘C) | General temperature trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960–1980 | 315 to 337 | Increasing | +0.05+0.05+0.05 to −0.10-0.10−0.10 | Decreasing |
| 1980–2000 | 337 to 369 | Increasing | −0.10-0.10−0.10 to +0.30+0.30+0.30 | Increasing |
| 2000–2020 | 369 to 415 | Increasing | +0.30+0.30+0.30 to +0.65+0.65+0.65 | Increasing |
Describe the mechanism by which greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide cause an increase in global air temperature.
Using only the data provided in the table, evaluate the evidence for and against the theory that an increase in atmospheric CO2\text{CO}_2CO2 concentration causes an increase in global air temperatures.