Global warming occurs when the Earth absorbs more heat from the sun than it radiates back out to space. The Earth releases heat through thermal radiation, emitting electromagnetic waves. Certain gases in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide and methane absorb some of the infrared wavelengths emitted by the Earth, trapping heat and preventing it from escaping. This causes the Earth's temperature to rise over time as the trapped heat accumulates in the lower atmosphere.

1. P h y s I c s B e h I n d G l o b a l W a r m I n g

2. Physics Perspective • Global warming is a matter of heat balance: Earth's temperature rises until the heat flowing out of the earth balances the heat flowing into it. Meaning  If the earth cannot release the heat before the new one come in from particular sources (i.e. Sun), earth’s temperature will accumulate.

3. How the Earth Releasing Heat? Because the earth is an isolated object; therefore, there’s only one way the earth can exchange heat with the rest of universe, which is through thermal radiation. Balance heat from the sun Heat lost to outer space Heat returned to earth

6. Thermal Radiation

9. Carbon & Temperature Chart