Knowledge Organiser: Climate Change
Evidence (TIMC)
- Temperature records: +1.1°C since 1880
- Ice cores: highest CO₂ in 800,000 years
- Melting ice: 13% Arctic loss per decade
- Changing seasons: earlier spring events
Human Causes
- Fossil fuels: 75% of CO₂ emissions
- Deforestation: 11% of CO₂ emissions
- Agriculture: methane from cattle/rice
- Industry: cement (CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂)
Consequences (SIRF)
- Sea levels rise (23 cm since 1880)
- Ice caps melt
- Rainfall patterns change
- Flooding/extreme weather increases
Mitigation Strategies
- Renewable energy (solar, wind)
- Electric vehicles
- Reforestation
- Carbon capture and storage
- Individual actions: less driving/flying/meat
Key Equations
- CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂ (cement production — releases CO₂)
- C + O₂ → CO₂ (combustion of carbon fuels — main source of CO₂)
- 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ (reforestation removes CO₂ via photosynthesis)
Common Mistakes
- Saying climate change is the same as the greenhouse effect: The greenhouse effect is a natural mechanism; climate change refers to the human-enhanced warming causing global disruption — they are related but different
- Confusing weather and climate: Weather is day-to-day conditions; climate is long-term average patterns — climate change affects climate, not individual weather events directly
- Forgetting that deforestation increases CO₂ in two ways: Trees are cut AND burned (releasing CO₂) AND there are fewer trees to absorb CO₂ via photosynthesis — both effects must be mentioned
- Saying climate change has only scientific solutions: Addressing climate change requires both technological solutions AND political/social action — examiners expect balanced answers covering multiple types of response
Memory Aid
- 1.1°C = current global warming above pre-industrial
- 280 → 420+ ppm = CO₂ change since 1750
- 23 cm = sea level rise since 1880
- 13% = Arctic ice loss per decade