Climate Change

• Human Causes of Climate Change

  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
  • CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)
  • Methane - CH4
  • Nitrous Oxide
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2)


  • Burning fossil fuels (Coal / Oil / Gas) for transport, industry and power stations produce carbon dioxide
  • Growth of mass tourism and cheaper flights had led to a huge increase in air travel which creates huge amounts of CO2 from burning fuel in jet engines
  • Deforestation of the rainforest e.g. The Amazon Basin means less CO2 is absorbed by trees and remains in the atmosphere
  • Burning areas of cut down forest to clear land also releases CO2
• CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)


  • CFC gases are used as coolants in fridges, freezers and air conditioning systems. When these appliances are discarded and destroyed the CFCs are released into atmosphere
  • CFCs are also used in the manufacture of polystyrene packaginge.g. Pizza and burger boxes
• Methane - CH4


  • Increased production of Rice releases Methane into atmosphere
  • Increased beef and dairy production means growing numbers of cattle which release methane when digesting food (flatulence) at both ends!
  • Decaying organic waste (such as food waste) in rubbish dumps(landfill sites) releases methane
  • The greenhouse effect has caused the melting of PERMAFROST in the arctic which releases methane
• Nitrous Oxide


  • Car exhausts, Nitrogen fertilisers and Power stations can all cause pollution of Nitrous Oxide
• MASS CONSUMERISM / MASS CONSUMPTION has led to a THROW AWAY CULTURE of plastics, fast fashion and electronic devices greatly increasing greenhouse gas emission
• Physical Causes of Climate Change

  • Solar Activity
  • Variations in the earth's orbit /tilt
  • Volcanic Activity (short term cooling / long term warming)
  • Oceanic Circulation changes
  • Melting Permafrost
• Solar Activity


  • Variations in SOLAR ACTIVITY over time can lead to increases or decrease in global temperatures (The energy the sun releases can vary over time)
  • The Little ice age from 1650-1850 may have been caused by decrease in solar activity
• Variations in the earth's orbit /tilt

  • Variations in the earth's orbit and tilt. Milankovitch cycles
  • More tilt means warmer summers and colder winters. Less tilt means the opposite…less variation between seasons
• Volcanic Activity (short term cooling / long term warming)

  • Volcanic dust in atmosphere can block solar energy and reduce global temperatures in the short term
  • E.G. Mount Pinatubo in 1991 reduced global sunlight by 10% and caused a 0.5% decrease in global temperatures
  • BUT Volcanic activity can produce greenhouse gases such as CO2causing long term warming
• Greenhouse effect


  The trapping of the sun's energy by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, causing global warming
• Oceanic Circulation changes


  • Changes in Oceanic circulation such as the periodic warming (EL NIÑO) and cooling (LA NIÑA) of the tropical Pacific Ocean can cause temperature change
• Greenhouse gases causing climate change

  • Carbon dioxide (CO2)
  • CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)
  • Methane (CH4)
  • Nitrous Oxide
• Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions


  1. Burning fossil fuels (coal/oil/gas) for transport, industry and power stations

  2. Growth of mass tourism and cheaper flights leading to increased air travel

  3. Deforestation of rainforests like the Amazon

  4. Burning areas of cut down forest to clear land
• CFC emissions


  1. Used as coolants in fridges, freezers and air conditioning systems

  2. Used in aerosol cans

  3. Used in manufacture of polystyrene packaging
• Methane (CH4) emissions


  1. Increased production of rice

  2. Increased beef and dairy production leading to more cattle

  3. Decaying organic waste in landfill sites
• Nitrous Oxide emissions


  1. Car exhausts

  2. Nitrogen fertilisers

  3. Power stations
• Melting Permafrost


  • Melting permafrost in the Arctic e.g. Alaska can release methane into atmosphere. This is a greenhouse gas that can cause global warming
• Polar Ice caps melt so habitats are destroyed threatening species such as Polar Bear with extinction
• Mass consumerism and mass consumption has led to a throw away culture of plastics, fast fashion and electronic devices, greatly increasing greenhouse gas emissions
• Melting ice causes sea levels to rise. This causes floods in low lying coastal areas e.g. Indonesia / Bangladesh
• Solar activity


  Variations in the energy released by the sun over time can lead to increases or decreases in global temperatures
• Increase in sea temperatures


  The sea expands and sea levels rise, making the problem of coastal flooding worse
• Milankovitch cycles


  Variations in the earth's orbit and tilt
• High sea temperatures in late summer

  Increase the risk of tropical storms e.g. Hurricanes in the North Atlantic Ocean
• Milankovitch cycles


  • More tilt means warmer summers and colder winters, less tilt means less variation between seasons
• Increased risk of extreme weather disasters

  • Heatwaves have led to Drought e.g. 5 years of drought in the Horn of Africa
  • This has led crop failure and famine affecting 30million people
  • Heatwaves leading to Wildfires, e.g. 80 wildfires in Greece in 2023 killed 28 people
  • Increased rainfall leading to Flooding, e.g. 2022 Pakistan floods killed 2000 people
• Volcanic activity


  1. Volcanic dust in atmosphere can block solar energy and reduce global temperatures in the short term

  2. Volcanic activity can produce greenhouse gases like CO2 causing long term warming
• Climate wars and refugees

  • Civil wars such as in Somalia are partly caused by food and water shortages due to climate change
  • Climate refugees: Over 30million people in 2022 forced to move away from their home due to global warming related disasters
• Oceanic circulation changes


  Changes in patterns like El Niño and La Niña in the tropical Pacific Ocean can cause temperature changes
• Melting permafrost


  Releases methane into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse effect and global warming
• Impact on UK


  • Skiing industry in Scottish Highlands is in decline due to the lack of snow
  • Heatwaves lead to water shortages, due to summer drought in some areas such as Southeast England
  • More frequent torrential rainstorms lead to flood risk in river floodplains e.g. City of Perth on the River Tay
  • Homeowners and businesses near rivers cannot get insurance due to flood risk
  • Increased risk of tropical diseases such as Malaria as mosquito habitat expands due to warmer temperatures
  • Longer growing season in certain areas such as Scotland, as winter temperatures are milder, increasing crop / food production, benefiting farmers
• Polar ice caps melting destroys habitats and threatens species like polar bears, while also causing sea levels to rise and flood low-lying coastal areas
• Global Strategies to Manage Climate Change

  • Scientific Research
  • World Summits (conferences)
  • Find alternatives to fossil fuels
  • Recycling
  • Reduce deforestation and increase afforestation
• Increased sea temperatures


  Causes sea to expand and sea levels to rise, increasing risk of coastal flooding
• Increased sea temperatures


  Increases risk of tropical storms like hurricanes in the North Atlantic
• Scientific Research


  • Scientists monitor changes in global temperature, sea level, and CO2 emissions and advise world leaders on steps which are needed to reduce global warming
• World Summits (conferences)


  • World Summits such as COP 26 in Glasgow allow governments to meet and agree to set targets to reduce burning of fossil fuels
  • E.g. 2015 Paris agreement aimed to keep global temperature increases below 2 Degrees Celsius
• Extreme weather events caused by climate change

  • Heatwaves and drought
  • Wildfires
  • Flooding
• Climate change has contributed to civil wars and forced over 30 million people to become climate refugees in 2022