Final answer:
Global warming refers to the increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere, while climate change encompasses broader changes in temperature, weather patterns, and more.
Step-by-step explanation:
The increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere, especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes, is called global warming. It refers to the recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth's surface, primarily caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Global warming is just one aspect of climate change, which includes changes in temperature, weather, storm activity, wind patterns, sea levels, and other influences on the planet.