Climate Change
Overview
The same blanket of gases that keeps our planet warm enough for life is now growing thicker, and the Earth is responding. Burning fossil fuels, clearing forests and farming on a vast scale are adding carbon dioxide and methane to the air faster than nature can remove them. The result is the enhanced greenhouse effect: more heat is trapped, the planet warms, and the climate that farmers, cities and ecosystems all depend on begins to shift. This is one of the defining environmental challenges of our time.
In this lesson you will learn what counts as a greenhouse gas and the human activities that are raising their levels, then trace how the enhanced greenhouse effect leads to global warming and climate change. You will study the wide-ranging impacts, from rising seas and ocean acidification to changing crop yields and forced migration, and you will weigh up the strategies, both reducing emissions and adapting to change, that the world is using to respond.
Objectives
- 4.2.1 Define a greenhouse gas as a gas that absorbs radiation and emits the energy as thermal (heat) energy.
- 4.2.3 Describe the causes of increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, limited to: (a) combustion of fossil fuels: releases carbon dioxide (b) agriculture: digestion by cattle, manure decomposition and rice fields release methane (c) deforestation: reduces removal of carbon dioxide by photosynthesis (d) changes in land use: wetland drainage releases methane (e) cement manufacture: calcium carbonate (limestone) is heated to produce calcium oxide (lime) and releases carbon dioxide (f) increasing human population and increased energy usage: releases carbon dioxide.
- 4.2.4 Describe and explain the effects from increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leading to the enhanced greenhouse effect, limited to: (a) greenhouse gases absorb solar radiation causing global warming (b) global warming can result in climate change.
- 4.2.5 Describe and explain the impacts of climate change, limited to: (a) increase in temperature of Earth’s surface (b) increase in temperature of ocean surface (knowledge of ENSO, El Niño and La Niña is not required) (c) melting of ice sheets, glaciers and permafrost leading to a rise in sea level (d) ocean acidification due to increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (e) disruption to food chains (f) change in biodiversity (g) loss of habitat (h) forced migration of humans and other animals (i) increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events leading to flooding and loss of land, drought and wildfires (j) change in crop yields (k) increased pest outbreaks and invasive species (l) food shortages.
- 4.2.6 Describe strategies for reducing carbon footprints to limit the impacts of climate change, limited to: (a) reduced use of fossil fuels (b) make more sustainable food choices: plant-based diet, seasonal food, buy locally produced foods (c) reduction in livestock farming (d) reduction in number of children per woman (e) increase in energy efficiency (f) reforestation and afforestation (g) carbon sequestration: capture, remove and store carbon dioxide (h) transport policies (i) international agreements and policies (j) taxation (k) research and climate models (l) use of artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the impacts of climate change and develop strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change.
- 4.2.7 Define climate change adaptation as altering behaviour, practices and infrastructure to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
- 4.2.8 Describe climate change adaptation strategies, limited to: (a) crops that resist warmer, drier or wetter conditions (b) improve flood defences (c) legislation about building near coasts and on floodplains (d) building design and materials.
- 4.2.9 Discuss the benefits and limitations of strategies to manage the impacts of climate change.
Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Climate Change. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- A greenhouse gas is best defined as a gas that: A. Destroys ozone in the stratosphere B. Absorbs radiation and emits the energy as heat C. Reflects sunlight back into space D. Reacts with water to form acid rain Answer: B
- Which human activity is the main source of methane? A. Cement manufacture B. Cattle farming and rice fields C. Burning coal in power stations D. Driving petrol cars Answer: B
- Which of the following is an impact of climate change? A. A larger ozone hole B. Lower levels of ultraviolet radiation C. Rising sea levels from melting ice D. More argon in the air Answer: C
- Which strategy is an example of adaptation rather than mitigation? A. Installing solar panels B. Planting forests C. Building higher flood defences D. Capturing carbon dioxide Answer: C
- Carbon sequestration helps limit climate change by: A. Reflecting sunlight away from the Earth B. Capturing and storing carbon dioxide C. Removing CFCs from refrigerators D. Reducing ultraviolet radiation Answer: B
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Available on the Green Bridge App
Download the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer to access full lesson notes, practice questions, and more.
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
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