Climate & the Natural Greenhouse Effect (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Environmental Management): Revision Note
Exam code: 0680
What is climate?
Climate refers to the average weather conditions in a specific area over a long period of time, typically 30 years or more
It includes patterns of temperature, humidity, and precipitation
The climate is influenced by various factors, such as:
Solar radiation
Atmospheric circulation patterns
Ocean currents
Land features
Greenhouse gas concentrations
The global climate conditions of the Earth have changed over time, leading to colder and warmer periods
The last 2.6 million years are the Quaternary period, when there have been 60 cold periods and warmer interglacial periods
The last ice age ended approximately 25,000 years ago
What is the natural greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon where solar radiation passes through the atmosphere to the Earth's surface
Some of this energy is absorbed by the land and oceans, heating the Earth
Some solar energy is reflected back into space
The remaining solar energy is absorbed by the greenhouse gases and clouds and then re-emitted in all directions back to Earth, causing the temperature of the surface to rise
This process is important to ensure that Earth is warm enough for life
Without the greenhouse effect, the average temperature would be much colder, making the planet uninhabitable
For example, the average surface temperature of Earth is about 15 °C
Without the greenhouse effect, it would be about -18 °C
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Remember that weather is what you get on a day-to-day basis; climate is the conditions you expect a place to have. You expect the UK to be fairly cool and wet, Singapore to be warm and humid, and Egypt to be hot and dry.
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