Syllabus Edition

First teaching 2024

First exams 2026

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Climate Change Causes & Impacts (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): SL): Exam Questions

54 mins13 questions
11 mark

Distinguish between the terms climate and weather.

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23 marks

Weather and climate are significantly influenced by atmospheric circulatory systems, which result in the movement of air masses, distribution of heat, and the formation of weather patterns.

Air movement within atmospheric pressure cells is roughly circular and moves surplus heat from equatorial regions to other parts of the Earth.

In both hemispheres, heat energy transfer occurs where three atmospheric circulation cells meet.

State the names of these three cells that make up the tricellular model of atmospheric circulation.

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32 marks

State two sources of methane emissions.

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41 mark

Climate change can amplify or intensify changes, leading to further global warming

For example, increasing temperatures result in the release of the potent greenhouse gas methane from thawing permafrost, which further enhances the greenhouse effect.

Identify the name of this type of process.

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14 marks

Explain the albedo effect and its significance in regulating the Earth's overall temperature. 

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23 marks

There is a general consensus amongst the scientific community that increased levels of carbon dioxide emissions as a result of human activity are causing global warming due to an enhanced greenhouse effect. 

Explain how increases in the proportions of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have led to global warming.

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32 marks

Global warming is having an overall detrimental effect on biodiversity and ecology in general.

Suggest and explain one potential effect of global warming that may be beneficial to certain organisms.

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43 marks

The figure below shows data on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and average global temperatures between the years 1000 and 2000.

5-3-q4c-graph---sq

With the help of the graph above, evaluate the claim that rising global temperatures are caused by rising atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.

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53 marks

Other than the burning of fossil fuels, state three sources of atmospheric greenhouse gases.

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17 marks

Discuss the potential consequences of elevated greenhouse gas levels on human societies living in diverse geographical regions.

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27 marks

Explain how global warming may increase the carrying capacity of human populations in some parts of the world but decrease the carrying capacity in other areas.

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39 marks

Evaluate the impact of human activities on atmospheric composition and the consequences for ecosystems.

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49 marks

There has been significant debate surrounding the causes of climate change.

Evaluate contrasting viewpoints on this issue.

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