human
I have been hearing a lot of talk about global warming and climate change. What is the big deal?
assistant
Global warming is caused by the greenhouse effect, which is a natural process that occurs on Earth. The greenhouse effect is caused by certain gases in the atmosphere that trap heat from the sun and keep it from escaping into space. This trapping of heat can cause temperatures to rise and lead to changes in weather patterns. Climate change refers to long-term shifts in average weather patterns over large areas or globally. These shifts can include warmer or colder temperatures, more or less precipitation, and changes in wind patterns.