What is global warming definition for kids

Laura

Global warming is the unusually fast increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature and is caused by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane being released into the atmosphere.

When sent out into the air, these potentially harmful gases are known as emissions.

Throughout history, the Earth has warmed and cooled over long periods of time. But in the past 100 years, human activity has caused the Earth’s atmosphere and our climate to change more quickly.

When fossil fuels, like oil, gas and coal, are burned, lots of greenhouse gases are released into our atmosphere changing the way it’s made up.

All of these greenhouse gases absorb heat so they act like a blanket which wraps around the Earth, trapping energy from the sun and keeping the Earth or 'globe’ warm.

On top of this, when we change the surface of the Earth, particularly removing trees and natural landscapes and replacing them with concrete buildings, roads or other struct