Global warming is caused by gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. These gases are mainly released by burning fossil fuels. This continued warming of the Earth will cause “extreme heat and drought, rising sea levels, and higher-intensity tropical storms” (Global Warming Science). It will put our coastal property and resources in danger, may make some of our cities unliveable during the summer, and hurt our farms, forests, and fisheries.

Global warming is related to the greenhouse effect which is what keeps the Earth warm. However, if there is an increase of the gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect then the Earth’s atmosphere will get warmer.

The greenhouse effect is when light from the sun is absorbed by lands and oceans. It starts with heat or infrared energy from the sun that warms the surface of the Earth. Some of the heat is absorbed by greenhouse gases and then re-emitted, but some of it is trapped in the atmosphere to further warm the Earth.

One of the most important greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming is CO2. When there is too much CO2 in the atmosphere it will trap more infrared energy in the atmosphere and further warm the Earth’s surface. The Earth has a natural carbon cycle so when there is too much CO2 in the atmosphere it will very slowly return to its natural state. However, this readjustment happens very slowly while the rate at which humans are putting carbon into the atmosphere is faster, so the natural balance of carbon cannot be maintained. So there is a higher concentration of in the atmosphere which warms the Earth’s surface.