What is Global Warming?

Global warming refers to the gradual increase in the average temperature of the surface of the earth, including the oceans. This is happening mainly because of the release of carbon dioxide and methane into the air from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas.

The atmosphere is mainly composed of nitrogen and oxygen which are transparent to visible light from the sun, which warms the earth’s surface. This results in infrared (heat) energy being radiated away from the earth, but, because the atmosphere also contains small amounts of carbon dioxide and methane which absorb infrared radiation, the heat is trapped, and the earth slowly warms up. Thus these gasses act like glass in a greenhouse and are called “greenhouse gases.”

The concentration of these gases is increasing over time because they come mainly from burning of coal, oil and natural gas in electric power  plants, gasoline engines in cars and trucks, and furnaces used for heating homes and other buildings.

Warming of the earth can have adverse effects on agriculture and the health of plants and animals, including human beings.