4.4 Climate change

IB Syllabus Statements

Understandings:

Carbon dioxide and water vapour are the most significant greenhouse gases.
Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact.
The impact of a gas depends on its ability to absorb long wave radiation as well as on its concentration in the atmosphere.
The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation (heat).
Longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases that retain the heat in the atmosphere.
Global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by concentrations of greenhouse gases.
There is a correlation between rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide since the start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global temperatures.
Recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide are largely due to increases in the combustion of fossilized organic matter.

Applications and skills:

Application: Threats to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide.
Application: Correlations between global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations on Earth.
gases.
Application: Evaluating claims that human activities are not causing climate change.

Discuss the claim that human activities are producing climate change.
What are the two most significant greenhouse gases? Are there other gases that should be considered?
Discuss the impact of gases in global warming based on the ability to absorb long-wave radiation and its concentration in the atmosphere.
What kind of radiation does a warmed Earth emit?
Explain how greenhouse gases contribute to global warming and the greenhouse effect.
Outline how global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by concentrations of greenhouse gases.
Discuss the relationship between rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide since the start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global temperatures.
Explain the causes of recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.
Outline the threat to coral reefs from increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide.
Outline the correlation between global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations on Earth.
Discuss claims that human activities are not causing climate change.
Outline the relationship, if any, between ozone depletion and the enhanced greenhouse effect.