AtmosphereDefinitions

Key Definitions

Part of Climate Change · GCSE GCSE Chemistry revision

This definitions covers Key Definitions within Climate Change for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Climate Change in Atmosphere for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 8 of 17 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.

Topic position

Section 8 of 17

Practice

20 questions

Recall

15 flashcards

📖 Key Definitions

Climate change: Long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns. While some climate change is natural, since the mid-20th century human activities have been the main driver.

Global warming: The observed increase in Earth's average surface temperature, primarily caused by the enhanced greenhouse effect from increased greenhouse gas concentrations.

Carbon footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by an individual, organisation, event, or product, measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.

Weather: Atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place (temperature, precipitation, wind). Short-term and variable.

Climate: The average weather conditions over a long period (typically 30+ years) for a region. Represents long-term patterns.

Albedo: The reflectivity of a surface. Ice and snow have high albedo (reflect sunlight). Dark ocean water has low albedo (absorbs sunlight). Melting ice reduces albedo, amplifying warming.

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Climate Change. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Weather vs Climate CO₂ and Temperature: Key Data The Fastest Climate Change in Earth's History Evidence for Climate Change

Practice Questions for Climate Change

Which statement correctly describes the difference between weather and climate?

A. Weather is the long-term average conditions; climate is what happens on one day
B. Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions; climate is the long-term average of those conditions
C. Weather refers to temperature only; climate refers to rainfall only
D. Weather and climate mean the same thing

1 markfoundation

Explain three consequences of climate change for the environment or human populations. [3 marks]

3 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

At what rate is Arctic sea ice declining?

13% per decade

How have CO₂ levels changed since 1880?

Increased from 280 ppm to over 420 ppm (a 50% increase)

20 questions on Climate Change — practise free

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Weather vs Climate

CO₂ and Temperature: Key Data