blanket of air which protects all life. Without the atmosphere, life would not exist. The atmosphere protects living organisms from the heat of the Sun during the day, and at night it prevents the warm air from escaping. Basically, the atmosphere helps keep the living things on Earth from burning up or freezing. The pollution in the air, though, may affect this 'blanket' and becomes harmful to life on Earth. The substances in the air causing the dirty air are called pollutants. These air pollutants contributes to the heating up of the Earth, which is often called Global Warming. Fossil fuels are natural fuels found in and on the Earth, such as oil, coal, and natural gas. When they are burned, the gases released into the atmosphere are added to the 'blanket' that is covering the Earth. Farming also contributes to the greenhouse effect. Methane gas is released into the atmosphere when a cow releases its gas - or farts. There are over 1.5 billion cows in the world releasing methane gas daily, further adding to the 'blanket' covering the Earth. One of the greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, is absorbed by the trees and forests throughout the world, and then released as oxygen. Unfortunately, deforestation, the cutting down of trees and forests to make way for farms, roads, oil mines, and dams further leads to the greenhouse effect and a thicker 'blanket'. A warmer climate can affect the planet negatively. It could lead to heavier precipitation, unusual season changes, heat waves, etc. Polar animals' natural habitats are melting because of warmer temperatures, affecting polar bears, and seals. Orangutans in the rainforests are losing their homes, and sea turtles are losing nesting beaches because of rising sea levels. Farming in developing countries face increased rain, floods, and droughts; plus, certain kinds of food items may become scarce, unavailable, or more expensive for people to purchase. In summary, there has been climate change before humans began living on Earth, but the average temperature has increased over the past 200 years. Many scientists believe it is a result of human behavior, and changing some of those behaviors will have a positive effect on climate change and global warming.