Around the outside of the Earth is the atmosphere, a layer of gases (rather like a blanket) which helps the Earth to trap heat. Without this heat the Earth would not be able to sustain life. This natural effect is called the 'Green house effect'.Different industries and the burning of fossil fuels release carbon dioxide into the air. Carbon dioxide is a green house gas and collects in the atmosphere. This addition of more and more carbon dioxide is making the layer of gases thicker and thicker.
Think back to your blanket. If you keep adding more blankets on top of your body you will get hotter. This is because you are trapping more and more heat under the blanket. The same applies to the Earth. The thicker the blanket of gases becomes the more heat the Earth will trap.
It may sound good that the Earth will become warmer, but it is the other effects that will become a major problem to life on this planet.
1. Polar ice caps could melt, which would cause the sea level to rise. This would flood low areas of land.
2. Changes in the weather. Some areas could become warmer and drier. Hurricanes and flooding would hit land more often. Bad weather will become worse.
3. Drought (lack of rain water)could be seen in more regions of the Earth. Even here!
Photos from,
www.kannerandassoc.com/105th%20congress/global%20warming%20hearings.htm
news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/talking_point/1130660.stm
