Final answer:
Global warming is the term used to describe the recent rise in Earth's average surface temperature due to an increase in greenhouse gases, leading to an enhanced greenhouse effect. These changes are part of the broader phenomenon of climate change, which also includes shifts in weather patterns and sea levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Global warming refers to the rise in global mean temperature due to an increase of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. These gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), are known as greenhouse gases.
They contribute to the greenhouse effect, which is the warming that occurs when the atmosphere traps heat radiating from Earth toward space. Over time, the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation have drastically increased the concentrations of these gases, enhancing the greenhouse effect and leading to a rise in Earth's average surface temperatures, a process termed global warming.
The recent acceleration in global warming has also contributed to broader climatic changes, collectively known as climate change, which encompasses not only increasing temperatures but also altered weather patterns, increased storm activity, and rising sea levels. This human-induced phenomenon has become a critical issue since the mid-20th century, causing unprecedented changes on a global scale. With atmospheric CO2 levels rising from a pre-industrial level of 280 parts per million by volume to over 400 parts per million by 2013, the impacts of these changes are profound and far-reaching.