Global Warming is a term that you probably hear a lot these days! But do you know what it is, what causes it, or how we find out about it? It is a complicated subject that lots of people disagree about, but there are some basic facts that can help you understand what people mean when they say Global Warming.

The Earth has an average temperature. Some years are hotter than others, as you know from living in Arizona! But what does it mean when the years keep getting hotter and hotter and hotter? Is that Mother Nature deciding to make it warmer? Or is something else going on? Lots of smart scientists believe that things people (me and you) are doing are making our planet warmer.

One of the things that scientists believe is helping our planet get warmer is Greenhouse Gases. I bet you have heard that term a lot lately too! Greenhouse gases are little particles in the air that you cannot see, but they make a big difference on our planet. When greenhouse gasses enter the air, they float way up into the sky and stay there. When lots and lots of greenhouse gasses get up there they become a layer of gas above the ground. That layer of gas keeps more heat on our planet than it lets out. We call that the Greenhouse Effect.

So how does the Greenhouse Effect change our lives? For us in Arizona the Greenhouse Effect makes our summers longer and hotter! And in the north it makes the winters longer and colder! But how? When the temperature goes up on our planet it changes the Climate.

Climate is the weather that you expect to happen where you live. In Arizona you expect the sun to shine and it to be warm. So you could say we have a warm climate. In Alaska they expect it to snow at for it to be cold. So you could say they have a cold climate. Climates change depending on the temperature. So if the temperature changes… so does the climate! But why do we care about climate change anyway?

Climate change is important because it changes the way people live. Just think… what if it started snowing in Arizona? You would have to buy winter clothes, turn up the heat in your house, shovel your sidewalk and drink hot coco. We also couldn’t grow the same food in Arizona anymore because the climate changed!

Changing Sea Ice Along Antarctic Peninsula

So by reducing Greenhouse Gases we can reduce the Greenhouse Effect which will lower the Temperature Increase and stop Climate Change! But how do we do that?

Here are some easy ways that you can help!

• Save Electricity.
• When you are done with something turn it off! Lights, TV, computer, kitchen appliances and video games. 

• Walk or ride your bike to school.
• When you get out there and exercise instead of ride in the car you are helping to keep our planet healthy! 

• Learn about our environment.
• Search the cool web sites at the bottom of the page and learn as much about our planet as you can. Then you can tell other kids about the sweet stuff you learned and how to help!

• Be a community hero!
• Become famous in your neighborhood by teaching everyone you know about how to help keep our planet healthy. Teach people how to recycle and save energy and lower Greenhouse Gasses.

• Plant stuff!
• When you plan stuff in your yard like trees, flowers, vegetables and fruits you make our plant smile! The greener your yard the better!

• Recycle Recycle Recycle!
• Don’t put stuff in the trash when it can be recycled! Newspaper, writing paper, plastic bottles, glass bottles and aluminum cans can all be taken to a recycling center and made into new stuff! Check out the web site below to find out where the closest recycling center is to you.  

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