Final answer:
Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere caused by elevated greenhouse gas concentrations. This is a result of human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases, which have caused large-scale shifts in weather patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere due to elevated greenhouse gas concentrations, heightening the greenhouse effect. Climate change includes both global warming driven by human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases and the resulting large-scale shifts in weather patterns. Since the mid-20th century, humans have had an unprecedented impact on Earth's climate system and caused change on a global scale.