Weather is what it's like outside each day. Climate is a record of the weather over time. Studies show that Earth's temperature has increased by about one degree Fahrenheit since 1880. This may not seem like a big increase, but it makes many scientists worry that the Earth is warming up too fast. This change in climate is called global warming.
Scientists are worried because global warming is happening faster than ever before.
Understanding Global Warming Climate scientists believe that global warming is caused partly by human activity. When people burn certain kinds of fuel, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, they release greenhouse gasses into the air. Other things, such as landfills for our trash, also release these gasses. The term greenhouse gasses comes from greenhouses, houses for plants in which the glass traps heat from the sun. This keeps the inside of the greenhouse warmer than the outside.