[MUSIC] Climate change is a major cause of an increasing rate of weather catastrophes. Most of the energy on Earth comes from the Sun. Its radiation passes through Earth's atmosphere to the surface. Most of it is reflected back into space by layers of the atmosphere. The rest is absorbed by gas molecules in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide and some other gases are particularly good at absorbing solar radiation and converting it into heat. When fossil fuels are burned, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. Increasing concentrations of these gases have a greenhouse effect. They trap more heat on Earth. Global increases in temperature lead to more frequent and more powerful weather catastrophes. The oceans absorb the extra heat and get warmer. Warmer oceans cause rising sea levels, increasing temperatures and changes to weather patterns. For example, there are more frequent and stronger tropical cyclones, heat waves, and droughts, hurricanes, heavy rainfall, and floods. Here are examples of weather catastrophes. One, coastal floods due to rising sea levels. A global increase in temperature melts the ice in the Arctic and Antarctic. Melting sea ice, glaciers, and permafrost cause rising sea levels. It warms also sea water. When water warms up, it increases its volume and sea levels rise, increasing the severity and frequency of coastal floods that affect people living in low-lying coastal areas. Number two, wildfires due to droughts. Increasing temperature leads to more and longer droughts. Of course, these have a huge effect on agriculture too. But another dangerous effect is that droughts lead to more frequent and more intense wildfires that are difficult to extinguish. Wildfires destroy residential areas as well as forests. Smoke from wildfires causes smog and air pollution and damages the health of people living nearby. Number three, violent storms, like tropical cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons. Tropical cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons are getting stronger. As the ocean warms up, more water evaporates from the surface. Warm moist air triggers the formation of powerful storms. This happens most often near the Equator and when they make landfall they can also leave a trail of destruction. [MUSIC]