--- title: "Climate Change Basics" description: "Understand that greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit infrared radiation from Earth's surface, slowing heat loss to space. Burning fossil fuels adds carbon dioxide and increases warming. Rising average " canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/climate-change-basics-mt_DbI1kNg_0R source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/climate-change-basics-mt_DbI1kNg_0R.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Climate Change Basics Understand that greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit infrared radiation from Earth's surface, slowing heat loss to space. Burning fossil fuels adds carbon dioxide and increases warming. Rising average temperatures change weather patterns, melt land ice and raise seas as meltwater enters the ocean and warmer seawater expands. Subject: Science · Area: Weather & Climate · Ages 9 to 11 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/climate-change-basics-mt_DbI1kNg_0R ## Ready when they can - Describe the greenhouse effect: gases absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, slowing Earth's heat loss to space - Explain that burning fossil fuels increases CO₂ in the atmosphere - Name at least two consequences of global warming, such as changing weather patterns, melting land ice and rising seas ## Lesson: Why Earth Is Warming Climate describes weather patterns over many years. The atmosphere is the air around Earth. Sunlight warms land and ocean. They send energy upward as invisible infrared radiation. Greenhouse gases absorb some and send energy in all directions, including toward the surface. This slows heat loss to space. The natural greenhouse effect keeps Earth's surface warmer. People burn coal, oil and natural gas for cars, factories, heating and electricity. These fossil fuels release carbon dioxide, or CO2, when burned. Extra CO2 increases greenhouse warming and raises Earth's average temperature. People's greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of current global warming. Methane and water vapor are other greenhouse gases. *(drawing: This is a cause-and-effect chain, not a graph of measured CO2 amounts.)* Warming melts more land ice, including glaciers and ice sheets. Meltwater can reach the ocean and add water. Warmer seawater also takes up more space: it expands. Both processes raise global sea level and increase coastal flood risk. Local sea-level changes also depend on factors such as land rising or sinking. **Example.** Two made-up school plans cut yearly CO2 emissions by 40 kg and 70 kg. Kilograms (kg) measure mass. To compare the cuts, subtract: 70 - 40 = 30 kg. These are practice numbers, not estimates for real schools. Warming can change rain and snow patterns. Some places get more heavy rain; others have longer dry spells. In many snowy places, warmer air means less snow and earlier melting. Heavy rain and snowmelt can combine to add river water and raise flood risk. One flood alone cannot show its cause. Scientists compare long records and check other causes. Walking or cycling instead of a petrol car trip can cut fuel use when the route is safe. Turning off unused lights saves electricity. It can cut fossil fuel use where power stations burn these fuels. Factories, heating and power plants can still release CO2. Families, communities, businesses and governments all have ways to reduce emissions. **Recap.** Extra CO2 slows Earth's heat loss. Warming changes weather patterns, melts land ice and raises seas. ## Practice 8 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Sun-Driven Weather Systems](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/sun-driven-weather-systems-mt_-YYnLLIZh5) - [Weather vs Climate](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/weather-vs-climate-mt_AB-TEMXSGJ) - [The Atmosphere](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/the-atmosphere-mt_fkcxpeYP85) - [Oceans & Climate](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/oceans-and-climate-mt_KRNU0IOKfO) - [Climate Zones](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/climate-zones-mt_TMOzMCE17H) - [Natural resources](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/natural-resources-mt_VI5kdtf28e) ## Opens up - [Endangered & Extinct Species](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/endangered-and-extinct-species-mt_5S4byWDX6n) - [Earth's Energy Balance and the Greenhouse Effect, Quantified](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/earths-energy-balance-and-the-greenhouse-effect-quantified-mt_dDV2fr06nO) - [Climate Change at the Poles](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/climate-change-at-the-poles-mt_Fqna9qHffr) - [Rainforests & Global Climate](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/rainforests-and-global-climate-mt_HJd-8EEC6N) - [Reading Ancient Climate Records](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/reading-ancient-climate-records-mt_olFzbawexJ) - [AI and the Environment](https://lightmysky.com/learn/computing/ai-and-the-environment-mt_ZpCcTU8j_o)