10.4

• Evidence for climate change

  • Records of carbon dioxide levels
  • Temperature records
  • Pollen in peat bogs
  • Dendrochronology
• What is extrapolation?

  Using data to make predictions
• Models of future climate change

  Have limitations as they do not include factors such as reduction in emission of greenhouse gases
• Greenhouse effect

  The process by which infrared radiation from the Sun is trapped by gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, leading to an increase in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere
• Effects of climate change

  • Changes in distribution of species
  • Changes to development
  • Disrupted life cycles
• Conservation

  Maintains or increases the biodiversity within a particular habitat by allowing sustainable use of natural resources
• Preservation

  Maintains the biodiversity levels and the habitat intact by minimising the effects of human activities on the particular habitat
• Ways of reducing global warming

  • Growing plants to use as biofuels which are carbon neutral
  • Reforestation to increase the rate at which carbon dioxide is removed
• Reasons for conservation

  • Economic (food, medicine, pollination, water quality, tourism)
  • Social (aesthetic, recreation)
  • Ethical (right to survive)
• To validate evidence related to the climate change debate, studies are peer-reviewed, published in scientific journals, and debated at scientific conferences
• How have humans influenced ecosystems

  • Increased carbon dioxide and other pollutants causing climate change
  • Depleted biological resources e.g. overfishing
  • Destruction of habitats for buildings, farmland, resources, etc.
• Global warming


  The gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and surface
• How might global warmingaffect the natural world?

  • May affect the natural world by: Temperature, rainfall, light levels etc. all affecting survival
  • Habitats may be destroyed by deforestation or flooding
  • Species may need to change their habitat, or face extinction
• CITES

  Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Regulates trade of living organisms depending on their classification from vulnerable to endangered
• CITES has had some success at conserving biodiversity by limiting trade of species on the brink of extinction, but many countries haven't signed up, there are no legal sanctions, and the market is still in high demand
• Sustainable living


  • Balancing human needs with conservation
  • Maintaining biodiversity of a habitat while allowing use of the resources there
  • Minimising effect of human activities
• Improving sustainability


  1. Reducing global warming; limit carbon dioxide levels by using biofuels and reforesting depleted areas

  2. Conserving species such as fish for economic, social, and ethical reasons
• Validating evidence related to climate change

  1. Papers sent out to other experts for peer review to check for validity

  2. If data and conclusion seem reasonable, results are published in scientific journals

  3. May also be presented at conferences