Global warming is exactly what it sounds like. Global -warming refers to the average rise in the Earth’s temperature. Global warming is a natural process that has been happening since the last Ice Age ended nearly 7,000 years ago. During the last 100 years, the Earth’s average temperature has risen 1°F. Now, that might not sound like too much of an increase to you, but the plants and animals that make the Earth their home (that includes humans), take a long time to adapt to changes in their environment and climate.