Global warming is a gradual increase in the average temperature of Earth’s atmosphere. It is caused by human activity such as burning fossil fuels, which produces greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. These gases trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere. Since the Industrial Revolution began in the mid-19th century, the concentrations of these gases have increased dramatically.
It’s impossible to know the exact cause of the recent global warming trend, but it’s safe to say that humans are causing it. The climate change we’re seeing is a result of the buildup of greenhouse gasses in our planet’s atmosphere, which in turn alters the weather patterns around the world.
Scientists have long known that the release of greenhouse gases could alter the Earth’s temperature. Until the late 1970s, though, they weren’t sure whether cooling or warming would dominate, but by the 1990s it became clear that we were likely to see a new pattern of climate change unlike anything in human history.
The effects of this change include rising ocean temperatures, extreme weather events, loss of biodiversity, and dwindling water supplies. These changes will have a profound impact on people’s lives and economies. They may include floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and droughts that damage crops, strand people and cost billions in repair costs. They can also lead to the extinction of many native plant and animal species.
The vast majority of scientists worldwide agree that human activity is the primary cause of global warming. Currently, we are experiencing the fastest rate of climate change in thousands of years. Unless we act quickly, it will be too late to reverse the harm.