Topic 4.4: Climate Change
Essential Idea:
- Concentrations of gases in the atmosphere affect climates experienced at Earth's surface.
4.4U1: Carbon dioxide and water vapour are the most significant greenhouse gases.
4.4U2: Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact.
4.4U3: The impact of a gas depends on its ability to absorb long-wave radiation as well as on its concentration in the atmosphere.
4.4U4: The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation (heat)
4.4U5: The longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases, which retain the heat in the atmosphere.
4.4U6: Global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by concentrations of greenhouse gases.
4.4U7: There is a correlation between rising atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide since the start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global temperatures.
4.4U8: Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are largely due to increases in the combustion of fossilized organic matter.
4.4A1: Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide.
4.4A2: Correlations between global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations on Earth.
4.4A3: Evaluating claims that human activities are not causing climate change.
4.4U2: Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact.
4.4U3: The impact of a gas depends on its ability to absorb long-wave radiation as well as on its concentration in the atmosphere.
4.4U4: The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation (heat)
4.4U5: The longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases, which retain the heat in the atmosphere.
4.4U6: Global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by concentrations of greenhouse gases.
4.4U7: There is a correlation between rising atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide since the start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global temperatures.
4.4U8: Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are largely due to increases in the combustion of fossilized organic matter.
4.4A1: Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide.
4.4A2: Correlations between global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations on Earth.
4.4A3: Evaluating claims that human activities are not causing climate change.