There is a layer of natural gases (like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane) around the earth. These gases create something like a blanket around us in the atmosphere. The blanket lets in the heat of the sun and traps it, keeping it near ground level. It is like how a real greenhouse works (hence the name, greenhouse effect)!

For millions of years, the layer of gases has kept the earth warm enough so that people, plants, and animals can live here. But some scientists are now concerned that the earth’s surface will warm up too much - to a dangerous degree. This is called global warming. Factories, cars, and other things are making lots of new gases. These gases are trapping more and more of the sun’s heat. If it gets too hot, weather all over the globe would change. Warm places would be too hot to live, and cold places would become warm. It could melt the polar icecaps, which would make the sea level get unusually high, which could mean flooding.

TOO MUCH CARBON DIOXIDE

The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has played a major role in climate changes. Because of the burning of certain fuels in recent decades, there has been an increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. For now the climate remains somewhat the same, but the level of carbon dioxide could raise the average temperature.
Many scientists have figured that the rise in temperatures is a result of the greenhouse effect. A report in 1990 by 170 worldwide scientists said the greenhouse effect could get worse unless the amount of carbon dioxide is lowered.

WHAT CAN KIDS DO TO HELP?

Kids can do plenty to help stop the greenhouse effect. Using less energy, planting and protecting existing trees, and recycling can all help slow the process of global warming.