The term global warming is used to refer to the small yet significant increase in the average temperature of the Earth's surface as well as its projected continuation. Global warming is sometimes known as anthropogenic global warming, climate change, or the greenhouse effect.
Although scientists are not absolutely certain what causes global warming, it is thought that the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation plays a large role. These activities have caused the concentrations of heat-trapping "greenhouse gases" to increase in the atmosphere