Portal | global warming
TheClimateChangePortalAveragesurfaceairtemperaturesfrom2011to2020comparedtothe1951-1980average.Source:NASA.Incommonusage,climatechangedescribesglobalwarming—theongoingincreaseinglobalaveragetemperature—anditseffectsonEarthsclimatesystem.Climatechangeinabroadersensealsoincludespreviouslong-termchangestoEarthsclimate.Thecurrentriseinglobalaveragetemperatureismorerapidthanpreviouschanges,andisprimarilycausedbyhumansburningfossilfuels.Fossilfueluse,deforestation,andsomeagriculturalandindustrialp...
The Climate Change Portal Average surface air temperatures from 2011 to 2020 compared to the 1951-1980 average. Source: NASA.In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earths climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to Earths climate. The current rise in global average temperature is more rapid than previous changes, and is primarily caused by humans burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuel use, deforestation, and some agricultural and industrial practices increase greenhouse gases, notably carbon dioxide and methane. Greenhouse gases absorb some of the heat that the Earth radiates after it warms from sunlight. Larger amounts of these gases trap more heat in Earths lower atmosphere, causing global warming.
Due to climate change, deserts are expanding, while heat waves and wildfires are becoming more common. Increased warming in the Arctic has co...