AtmosphereKey Facts

Key Facts About Climate Change

Part of Climate ChangeGCSE Chemistry

This key facts covers Key Facts About Climate Change 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 less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 2 of 17 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 2 of 17

Practice

20 questions

Recall

15 flashcards

📊 Key Facts About Climate Change

  • Global average temperature has risen by 1.1°C since pre-industrial times
  • CO₂ levels have increased from 280 ppm to over 420 ppm since 1880 (50% increase)
  • Weather = short-term conditions (hours/days); Climate = long-term averages (30+ years)
  • Sea levels have risen 23 cm since 1880 due to thermal expansion and ice melt
  • Arctic sea ice is declining by 13% per decade
  • Main human cause: enhanced greenhouse effect from burning fossil fuels
  • Fossil fuel burning accounts for ~75% of human CO₂ emissions
  • Deforestation contributes ~11% of global CO₂ emissions

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.

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)

Want to test your knowledge?

PrepWise has 20 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards for Climate Change — with adaptive difficulty and instant feedback.

Join Alpha