Global Warming

The Earth absorbs infra-red heat radiation from the Sun and this heat is re-radiated back into space. However, some of this heat energy is reflected and re-emitted back down down to Earth, mainly by carbon dioxide gas, in a process called the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect is causing global warming which means that the temperature of the planet is rising. This is causing the sea levels to rise because the ice caps are melting and the sea is expanding, and it is leading to extreme weather and crop failure.

The carbon dioxide levels are rising because humans are burning a lot of fossil fuels including gas and petrol (which is made from crude oil).