What is Global Warming?

Global warmth begins with sunlight. When light from the Sun reaches the Earth, roughly 30 percent of it is reflected back into space by clouds, atmospheric, reflective ground surfaces, and ocean surf. The remaining absorbed by the land, air, and oceans. Solar energy does not stay bounce in Earth’s environment forever. Instead, as the rocks, the air, and the sea warm, they release thermal radiation. This thermal radiation travels directly out to space to cool the earth.

Some of this outgoing radiation is re-absorbed by water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases. Then re-radiated back toward the Earth’s surface. On the whole, this re-absorption process is good.

We produce millions of pounds of methane by allowing trash to decompose in landfills and by breeding large herds of methane-belching cattle. Nitrogen-based fertilizers and other soil management practices lead to the release of nitrous oxide into the atmosphere.

Once these greenhouse gases get into the atmosphere, they stay for decades or longer. Scientists have very high confidence that the increased concentrations of greenhouse gases have made it more difficult for thermal radiation to leave the Earth and as a result Earth has warmed.