Year 10 - Geography
Natural and human causes of climate change
Climate change and weather hazards
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit teaches pupils about climate change (causes, impacts and responses) together with extreme weather events, specifically tropical cyclones.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the natural and human causes of climate change.
Key Notes
- There are natural and human causes of climate change.
- Natural causes of climate change include orbital changes, asteroid collisions, volcanic activity and solar output.
- Human causes of climate change include the use of fossil fuels, agriculture and deforestation.
- Human causes of climate change produce greenhouse gases, enhancing the greenhouse effect and leading to global warming.
Vocabulary To Learn
- Milankovitch cycles: natural changes in Earth's orbit and tilt over thousands of years that influence solar energy and Earth's climate
- greenhouse gas: a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing to Earth's warming, e.g. CO₂ and methane
- enhanced greenhouse effect: the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activities, leading to global warming
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Climate change is only caused by human activity.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this geography topic using two clear key points.
There are natural and human causes of climate change. Natural causes of climate change include orbital changes, asteroid collisions, volcanic activity and solar output.
2. Define this geography term and use it in an example. 'Milankovitch cycles'
natural changes in Earth's orbit and tilt over thousands of years that influence solar energy and Earth's climate.
3. Correct this common geography misunderstanding.
Mistake: Climate change is only caused by human activity. Correction: Human activity has been significant in recent climate change, but natural factors have caused changes to the climate over millions of years.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Effects of climate change on people and the environment Study Guide
- Evidence for climate change in the Quaternary period Study Guide
- Examples of preparation and responses to tropical cyclones Study Guide
- Global atmospheric circulation model, pressure belts and surface winds Study Guide
- Reducing risks from effects of tropical storms Study Guide
- Tropical storms – distribution, formation and development Study Guide
- Tropical storms – hazards and effects Study Guide
- Tropical storms – responses Study Guide
- Using GIS to map the track of a tropical storm Study Guide
- Using GIS to visualise climate change impacts Study Guide
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