climate change

• Climate change

  The global climate has been changing since time began and will continue to change into the future
• Global warming

  The increase in global temperatures since around 1950
• The Earth's temperature has fluctuated in the last few hundred years
• Since around 1950 there has been a dramatic increase in global temperatures
• The degree to which the climate warms in the future will depend on natural climate variability and the level of greenhouse gas emissions
• If greenhouse gas emissions continue then average global temperatures will rise
• Some regions such as the Arctic will warm faster than others
• Greenhouse effect

  A natural function of the Earth's atmosphere to keep in some of the heat that is lost from the Earth
• Greenhouse effect


  1. The atmosphere allows the heat from the Sun (short-wave radiation) to pass through to heat the Earth's surface

  2. The Earth's surface then gives off heat (long-wave radiation)

  3. This heat is trapped by greenhouse gases (eg methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide), which radiate the heat back towards Earth

  4. This process heats up the Earth
• Pollution adds to greenhouse gases
• Human factors increasing global warming


  • Burning fossil fuels, eg coal, gas and oil - these release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
  • Deforestation - trees absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. If they are cut down, there will be higher amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
  • Dumping waste in landfill - when the waste decomposes it produces methane
  • Agriculture-agricultural practices lead to the release of nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere
• Natural factors increasing global warming


  • Orbital changes - the Earth has natural warming and cooling periods caused by Milankovitch cycles or variations in the tilt and/or orbit of the Earth around the Sun (Wobble, roll and stretch theory)
  • Volcanic activity-during a volcanic eruption carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere
  • Solar output-there can be fluctuations in the amount of radiation from the sun. If there is high amount emitted there will be an increase in Earth's temperatures
• Sea levels could rise, covering low lying areas, in particular east England
• Droughts and floods become more likely as extreme weather increases
• Increased demand for water in hotter summers puts pressure on water supplies
• Industry may be impacted, eg Scottish ski resorts may have to close due to lack of snow
• Sea level rise will affect 80 million people
• Tropical storms will increase in magnitude (strength)
• Species in affected areas (eg Arctic) may become extinct
• Diseases such as malaria increase, an additional 280 million people may be affected
• Mitigation strategies


  • Alternative energy - using alternative energy such as solar, wind or tidal can reduce the use of fossil fuels. This will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere
  • Carbon capture - this is the removal of carbon dioxide from waste gases from power stations and then storing it in old oil and gas fields or coal mines underground. This reduces the amount of emissions into the atmosphere
  • Planting trees- encouraging afforestation, means that there will be more trees to absorb the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere during the process of photosynthesis
  • International agreements - in 2005 the Kyoto Protocol became international law. The countries that signed up to the treaty pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. In 2016, the Paris Agreement united all the world's nations in a single agreement on tackling climate change. The agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2°C, ideally no more than 1.5°C. Each year the United Nations holds a meeting to discuss climate change. This meeting is called the Conference of the Parties, or COP. The UK hosted the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow between the 31st of October and the 12th November 2021. At the end of each COP, every country promises to take action to reduce carbon emissions
• Adaptation strategies


  • Agriculture-farmers will have to adapt as some crops may not be able to grow in a warmer climate. However, other crops (eg oranges and grapes) will be able to be planted
  • Water supply-water transfer schemes could be used. This is where water is transferred from an area of water surplus to an area of water shortage
  • Reducing risk from sea level rise - areas at risk from sea level rise may use sea defences to protect the land from being eroded away