ESS IB Topic 7.2 climate change-causes and impacts

1. In 2016, scientists reported the largest die-off ever on the
Great Barrier Reef.
Higher-than-normal sea temperatures force corals, which are
animals, to jettison the algae on which they depend for
survival, draining the color from reefs and turning them white.
If temperatures remain high, the corals typically die within
months.
Significant ideas:
1) Climate change has been a normal feature of the
Earth's history,. but human activity has contributed to
recent changes
2) There has been significant debate about the causes of
climate change
3) Climate change causes widespread and significant
impacts on a global scale.

2. Big Questions:
• What strengths and weaknesses of the systems
approach and the use of models have been revealed
through this topic? How does a systems approach help
our understanding of climate change.
• To what extent have the solutions emerging from this
topic been directed at preventing environmental
impacts, limiting the extent of the environmental
impacts, or restoring systems in which environmental
impacts have already occurred? Evaluate the success of
the Kyoto Protocol in stabilizing global climate change

3. Big Questions:
• What value systems can you identify at play in the
causes and approaches to resolving the issues
addressed in this topic? Explain why there are still
uncertainties regarding global climate change
• How does your own value system compare with others
you have encountered in the context of issues raised in
this topic? Evaluate measures of mitigation and
adaption.
• How are the issues addressed in this topic of relevance
to sustainability or sustainable development? Can
sustainable development be achieved without a
solution to global climate change

4. Big Questions:
• In what ways might the solutions explored in this topic
alter your predictions for the state of human societies
and the biosphere some decades from now? Outline
the obstacles to tackling global climate change.
• How does a systems approach help our understanding
of climate change?
• To what extent do we already know the solutions to
climate change?
• How will we find them/why have they not been
implemented?

5. Big Questions:
• Why are some sectors of society in denial of climate
change? do you agree with them? Give reasons to
support your answer.
• Examine the links between climate change and
sustainability.
• Is climate change inevitable? Whey?

6. Understandings
Statement Guidance
7.2U1 Climate describes how the atmosphere behaves
over relatively long periods of time, whereas
weather describe the condition in the
atmosphere over a short period of time.
7.2.U2 Weather and climate are affected by oceanic
and atmospheric circulatory systems.
7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of
greenhouse gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide,
methane and water vapor) in the atmosphere,
which leads to
• an increase in the mean global temperature
• increased fequency and intensity of extreme
weather events
• the potential for long term changes in
climate and weather patters
• rise in sea level.
GHGs are those atmospheric gases that absorb
infrared radiation, causing global
temperatures to be higher than they would
otherwise be.
Students should be able to distinguish between the
natural and the enhanced
greenhouse effect and to identify a variety of human
activities that contribute to
GHG emissions. Students must understand the
concept of tipping points and how
it might be applied to climate change.

7. Understandings
Statement Guidance
7.2.U4 The potential impacts of climate change may
vary from one location to another and may be
perceived as either adverse or beneficial. These
impacts may include changes in water
availability, distribution of biomes and crop
growing areas, loss of biodiversity and ecosystem
services, coastal inundation, ocean acidification
and damage to human health,.
7.2.U5 Both negative and positive feedback mechanisms
are associated with climate change and may
involve very long time lags
7.2.U6 There has been significant debate due to
conflicting EVSs surround the issue of climate
change..
A minimum of two different viewpoints should be
considered
7.2.U7 Global climate models are complex and there is a
degree of uncertainty regarding the accuracy of
their predictions.

8. Applications and Skills
Statement Guidance
7.2.A1 Discuss the feedback mechanisms that would be
associated with the change in mean global temperature
7.2.A2 Evaluate contrasting viewpoints on the issue of climate
change
A minimum of two different viewpoints should
be considered

9. Climate change has been a normal feature of Earth’s history, but
human activity has contributed to recent changes
https://canadiancor.com/correlates-climate-change/
Click on image for video

10. Climate change has been a normal feature of Earth’s history, but
human activity has contributed to recent changes
• What is the difference between climate change, global warming and
the greenhouse effect

11. 7.2.U1 Climate describes how the atmosphere behaves over
relatively long periods of time, whereas weather describes the
conditions in the atmosphere over a short period of time
• The desert climate is typically
hot and dry, but on a given
day it may experience cool,
rainy weather

12. • Weather describes how the conditions in the atmosphere over short
period of time.
• Climate describes how the a atmosphere behaves over relatively long
periods of time.
7.2.U1 Climate describes how the atmosphere behaves over
relatively long periods of time, whereas weather describes the
conditions in the atmosphere over a short period of time

13. 7.2.U2 Weather and climate are affected by oceanic and
atmospheric circulatory systems
• Warm oceans warm
water and the air above.
Winds move that warm
air, which them
influences climate. This
effect is minimized far
from the ocean
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/el-nino/

14. El Niño and La Niña
1. El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of what is known as the
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.
2. The ENSO cycle is a scientific term that describes the fluctuations
in temperature between the ocean and atmosphere in the east-
central Equatorial
3. La Niña is sometimes referred to as the cold phase of ENSO and El
Niño as the warm phase of ENSO.
7.2.U2 Weather and climate are affected by oceanic and
atmospheric circulatory systems
Click on the image

15. Click on image for video

16. Water Vapor (H20)
• Most Abundant greenhouse gas
• Positive Feedback Cycle
Higher temps
Increased
evaporatio
n
More
heat
trapped
More H20
Vapor in
atmosphere
7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse
gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor)
in the atmosphere, which leads to: an increase in mean global
temperature

17. 7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse
gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor)
in the atmosphere, which leads to: an increase in mean global
temperature

18. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• Present naturally
• Increased since industrial revolution
• Combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural
gas, petroleum)
• For every kg of fossil fuel burned 3kg of
CO2 released
• Deforestation
• Fewer forests = less absorption of CO2 from
atmosphere
7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse
gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor)
in the atmosphere, which leads to: an increase in mean global
temperature

19. Methane (CH4)
• Absorbs 20-30x more heat than CO2
• Sources
• Landfills
• Rice Paddies
• Agriculture
• Coal mines and natural gas
7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse
gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor)
in the atmosphere, which leads to: an increase in mean global
temperature

20. Nitrous Oxide( N2O)
Agricultural Source
• Result of a natural process, in the
nitrogen cycle
• Enhanced by nitrogen containing
fertilizers
• Can last up to 100 years in atmosphere
Industrial Source
• High temperature combustion of fossil fuels
7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse
gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor)
in the atmosphere, which leads to: an increase in mean global
temperature

21. 1 molecule of methane as the same impact on
global warming as 72 CO2 molecules

22. Analysis of the gas
content of the bubbles
gives both the
concentration of carbon
dioxide in the
atmosphere and the air
temperature (from
oxygen isotopes) at the
time ice was formed.
To deduce historic carbon dioxide concentrations
and temperatures ice cores are drilled in Antarctic ice
sheets
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:GISP2_team_photo_core37.jpeg
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GISP2_1855m_ice_core_layers.
png
Vostock ice core (pictured) drilled at a
Russian monitoring station in East
Antarctica is an example of an ice core.
A cylinder of ice was collected
by drilling from to the bottom of
the Antarctic ice sheet. The
total length of the core was
2083 meters.
The core shows annual layers,
which can be used to date the air
bubbles trapped in the ice.

23. GHGs are those atmospheric gases
that absorb infrared radiation,
causing global temperatures to be
higher than they would otherwise
be.
The impact of a greenhouse gas
depends on:
• Its ability to absorb long-wave
radiation
• Its concentration in the atmosphere
Carbon dioxide and water vapour are
the most significant greenhouse
gases.
7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse
gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor)
in the atmosphere, which leads to: an increase in mean global
temperature

24. 7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse
gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor)
in the atmosphere, which leads to: an increase in mean global
temperature
Correlation between variables does not always equal causation.
But 80,000 years of data depicts a fairly clear correlation between CO2 levels
and temperature
https://www.feedbackreigns.net/evidence/temperature-co2/

25. 4.4.U6 Global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by concentrations of greenhouse
gases.
Global average temperatures are not
directly proportional to greenhouse gas
concentrations.
Other factors, e.g.
sun spot activity,
have an impact
global average
temperatures
increases in greenhouse gas concentrations will
likely cause:
• higher global average temperatures
• more frequent and intense heat waves
• some areas becoming more prone to
droughts
• some areas more prone to intense periods of
rainfall and flooding
• tropical storms to be more frequent and
more powerful
• Changes to ocean currents, e.g. weakening of
the Gulf Stream would mean colder
temperatures in north-west Europe
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hurricane_Elena.jpg
7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse
gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor)
in the atmosphere, which leads to: an increase in mean global
temperature

26. Who creates greenhouse gases?

27. 7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse
gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor)
in the atmosphere, which leads to: increased frequency and
intensity of extreme weather events
Hurricane Katrina (2006)
• Hurricanes’ energy comes from
warm oceansOceans warm as
more heat is trapped by GHGs
• Warmer oceans means more
energy available for storms
which means stronger (more
extreme) storms

28. 7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse
gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor)
in the atmosphere, which leads to: the potential for long-term
changes in climate and weather patterns
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/why-the-paris-talks-wont-prevent-2-degrees-of-global-warming

29. 7.2.U3 Human activities are increasing levels of greenhouse
gases (GHGs, such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor)
in the atmosphere, which leads to: rise in sea level
https://geog.ucsb.edu/what-if-all-the-ice-melted-an-interactive-map-from-national-geographic/
Click on
image for
animation

30. 7.2.U4 The potential impacts of climate change may vary from one
location to another and may be perceived as wither adverse or
beneficial. These impacts may include changes in water
availability, distribution of biomes and crop growing areas, loss of
biodiversity and ecosystem services, coastal inundation, ocean
acidification and damage to human health
There are 16
different impacts
shown in this
diagram
Even though it
references regions
in the US, the
impacts of climate
change on the water
cycle are universally
applicable

31. 7.2.U4 The potential impacts of climate change may vary from one
location to another and may be perceived as wither adverse or
beneficial. These impacts may include changes in water
availability, distribution of biomes and crop growing areas, loss of
biodiversity and ecosystem services, coastal inundation, ocean
acidification and damage to human health
How might these impacts
be considered adverse
(bad)? How might they be
beneficial?

32. Wetter than now
Drier than now
7.2.U4 The potential impacts of climate change may vary from one
location to another and may be perceived as wither adverse or
beneficial. These impacts may include changes in water
availability, distribution of biomes and crop growing areas, loss of
biodiversity and ecosystem services, coastal inundation, ocean
acidification and damage to human health

33. 7.2.U4 The potential impacts of climate change may vary from one
location to another and may be perceived as wither adverse or
beneficial. These impacts may include changes in water
availability, distribution of biomes and crop growing areas, loss of
biodiversity and ecosystem services, coastal inundation, ocean
acidification and damage to human health
http://wwf.panda.org/our_work/climate_and_energy/cop24/

34. 7.2.U4 The potential impacts of climate change may vary from one
location to another and may be perceived as wither adverse or
beneficial. These impacts may include changes in water
availability, distribution of biomes and crop growing areas, loss of
biodiversity and ecosystem services, coastal inundation, ocean
acidification and damage to human health
https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-coastal-flooding
Major cities on Earth
are located along
existing coastlines.
Where do all the
people go when their
homes are underwater
How do governments
pay for it all? Who
pays? What conflicts
might arise

35. 7.2.U4 The potential impacts of climate change may vary from one
location to another and may be perceived as wither adverse or
beneficial. These impacts may include changes in water
availability, distribution of biomes and crop growing areas, loss of
biodiversity and ecosystem services, coastal inundation, ocean
acidification and damage to human health
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OHE/Pages/CCHEP.aspx

36. Complete a table with two columns (positive and negative impacts of
climate change). Do one row for each area below
• Oceans and sea levels
• Polar ice caps
• Glaciers
• Weather patterns
• Food production
• Biodiversity and ecosystems
• Water supplies
• Human health
• Human migration
• National economies
Advantages of
global warming
Disadvantages of
global warming
7.2.U4 The potential impacts of climate change may vary from one
location to another and may be perceived as wither adverse or
beneficial. These impacts may include changes in water
availability, distribution of biomes and crop growing areas, loss of
biodiversity and ecosystem services, coastal inundation, ocean
acidification and damage to human health

37. Climate change causes widespread and significant impacts on a
global scale
Impacts fall into 3 broad
categories:
• Water: oceans, ice caps,
glaciers, hydrological
cycle and climate patters
• Productivity: plant growth
in natural ecosystems
and agriculture
• People: cities, forced
migration and economics
http://thebritishgeographer.weebly.com/the-impacts-of-climate-change1.html

38. Climate change causes widespread and significant impacts on a
global scale

39. 7.2.U5 Both negative and positive feedback mechanisms are
associated with climate change and may involve very long time
lags
https://www.fewresources.org/farms-feedlots-forests--climate-change-issues.html

40. 7.2.U5 Both negative and positive feedback mechanisms are
associated with climate change and may involve very long time
lags

41. 7.2.A1 Discuss the feedback mechanisms that would be
associated with the change in mean global temperature
https://www.fewresources.org/farms-feedlots-forests--climate-change-issues.html
Hint: Also consider
albedo effect, ice caps
and oceans

42. 7.2.U6 There has been significant debate due to conflicting EVSs
surround the issue of climate change
Debate does not mean
“equal proportions of
people”. It simply means
there are opposing views
https://makewealthhistory.org/tag/consensus/
Click on image

43. 7.2.U6 There has been significant debate due to conflicting EVSs
surround the issue of climate change
http://sites.uci.edu/climatechangenews/
What do
the sources
say? Are
they biased
or not?
How can
you tell?

44. 7.2.U6 There has been significant debate due to conflicting EVSs
surround the issue of climate change

45. 7.2.U6 There has been significant debate due to conflicting EVSs
surround the issue of climate change
Climate Change

46. 7.2.U6 There has been significant debate due to conflicting EVSs
surround the issue of climate change
Fossil Fuels

47. 7.2.A2 Evaluate contrasting viewpoints on the issue of climate
change
https://co2islife.wordpress.com/2017/12/26/an-actual-climate-change-debate-occurred-no-really-its-true/climate-debate/

48. 7.2.A2 Evaluate contrasting viewpoints on the issue of climate
change

49. 7.2.A2 Evaluate contrasting viewpoints on the issue of climate
change

50. • But remember the precautionary principle
• If an action is potentially harmful it is the responsibility of
the group causing the harm to prove that it is not, rather
than those being harmed having to prove that they are
• Better safe than sorry
7.2.A2 Evaluate contrasting viewpoints on the issue of climate
change

51. 7.2.U7 Global climate models are complex and there is a degree
of uncertainty regarding the accuracy of their predictions
This graph is a great
example of:
1. The complexity of
climate models
2. The degree of
uncertainty
because of the
number of factors
they consider
3. Really bad visual
data
communication-it
overwhelms and
intimidates the
audience
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/10/31/blind-faith-in-climate-models/

52. 7.2.U7 Global climate models are complex and there is a degree
of uncertainty regarding the accuracy of their predictions
Scientists are most
confident in their
predictions when they
have a lot of data.
This is why the
forecast for near-term
events is better than
forecasts of longer-
term events, both in
storm forecasting and
in climate forecasting.
NASA Climate
Change Model
Animation