Summary

Summary

  • Gases such as carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels increase the natural greenhouse effect. This is raising the temperature of Earth’s surface, and is called global warming.
  • An increase in particulates may reduce photosynthesis, increase precipitation, and reduce temperatures.
  • Ozone may damage native plants and some crop plants by slowing growth or damaging leaves.
  • Nitrogen and sulfur-oxides are pollutants. They also create acids in the atmosphere that fall as acid rain.