Climate Change 101

Lately, international news would have an item or 2 on Climate Change. What is it anyway? In a nutshell, it is the overall change of the climate due to a rise in the earth's temperature (a.k.a Global Warming). This is caused by the accumulation of Infra-red (IR) radiating compounds in the atmosphere known as Greenhouse gases (GHGs). Solar radiation is made up of visible light, UV and IR (heat carrying) components. When Solar radiation comes in contact with the atmosphere, whether by its initial approach to the earth or by reflection from the planet's surface, IR is radiated by GHGs resulting in heat trapped between the atmosphere and the surface. This warms up the planet leading to ice cap melting, redistribution of rain, stronger typhoons, etc.