Global warming is a term that is used to refer to an increase in
Earth’s average surface temperature. It is due mostly to the release of
greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere by human-fuelled activities such as
increased fossil fuel consumption leading to the release of carbon dioxide (CO2),
the increasing use of automobiles, the use of nitrogen base fertilizers,and
rearing and breeding large methane-belching cattle. Greenhouse gases such as
carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, water vapor, halocarbons (chlorofluorocarbons and
hydrofluorocarbons), methane, and ozone have the capability of absorbing
infrared radiation
from
the Earth’s surface, thereby altering the heat balance of the Earth.