LT: To examine changes in the global energy balance resulting from ​solar radiation variations​, 

terrestrial albedo changes​ and ​methane gas release​ and the role of feedback loops 
 
A range of evidence (see table below) suggests that Earth’s climate has changed in the past on varying timescales. 
Some deviations from the long-term average conditions lasted for millennia, whilst others have occurred over 
decades or years.  

Positive and Negative Feedback loops 

In order to understand more about the changes in Earth’s climate it is important to distinguish between ​positive 
feedback ​and​ negative feedback. 
 
Watch ​this​ video which gives an overview of the difference between positive and negative feedback.  
 
● Positive feedback loops​ are knock-on effects in natural systems which act to ​accelerate ​or ​amplify change 
and therefore the system will not return to ​dynamic equilibrium 
● Negative feedback loops​ are more common and occur when a system adjusts itself in ways that result in 
the system returning to its original state.  
 
The diagrams below show two possible ways the climate system could respond to more carbon dioxide being added 
to the atmosphere (for example as a result of fossil fuel use).  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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LT: To examine changes in the global energy balance resulting from ​solar radiation variations​, 
terrestrial albedo changes​ and ​methane gas release​ and the role of feedback loops 
Questions to complete: 
1. Explain two pieces of evidence which suggests our climate has changed over time [2+2] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Distinguish between positive and negative feedback within a climate system [2] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Identify which of the diagrams above shows positive feedback and which shows negative feedback [2] 
 
Positive feedback= 
 
 
Negative feedback = 
 
 
 
Watch ​this​ video which gives an overview of the climate’s natural cycles.  
 
Solar Radiation Variations 
The amount of solar radiation entering the atmosphere can vary, both in the short and long term as seen in the table 
below. A diagram of the Change in the Earth’s Orbit can also be seen below. 
 
Watch the following video: 
Video: How can volcanoes change the climate? 
Global dimming= suspended particulate matter in the atmosphere can increase the albedo and therefore reflect solar energy back into space 
and so have a net cooling effect on earth.  

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LT: To examine changes in the global energy balance resulting from ​solar radiation variations​, 
terrestrial albedo changes​ and ​methane gas release​ and the role of feedback loops 
 
Questions: 
1. Explain how changes in the Earth’s 
orbit affects insolation [3] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Changes in the Earth’s Orbit 

 
2. Explain what is meant by Milankovitch Cycles [2] 
 
 
 
 
 

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LT: To examine changes in the global energy balance resulting from ​solar radiation variations​, 
terrestrial albedo changes​ and ​methane gas release​ and the role of feedback loops 

3. ​Describe what is meant by ​sunspots​, and outline how they affect the earth’s climate [1+2] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
4. Describe how volcanic eruptions cause global dimming [2] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Terrestrial albedo changes 
 
Watch ​this​ video about albedo 
 
Albedo changes in cold environments eg at the Poles 
During periods when Earth has grown warmer in the past, temperature 
changes may have accelerated because of the loss of ice cover. Ice has a 
high albedo of around 80% which means it reflects a large amount of 
insolation. If some sea ice melts it will reveal the darker coloured ocean 
which will decrease the albedo of the Earth and therefore more of the 
sun’s energy will be absorbed making the climate warmer.  
 
Conversely if the climate in an area cools, the surface cover of snow and 
ice might expand to cover grassland or bare earth and this will increase 
the area’s albedo because snow and ice are light coloured and therefore 
reflect the sun’s energy back out to space. The diagram on the left shows 
the feedback loops associated with a change of albedo at the poles. 
 
Feedback cycles are not always predictable, however. The diagram below 
suggests an alternative scenario for the Arctic. 

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LT: To examine changes in the global energy balance resulting from ​solar radiation variations​, 
terrestrial albedo changes​ and ​methane gas release​ and the role of feedback loops 
 
Albedo changes in semi-desert regions 
In areas that are experiencing the process of 
desertification, such as the Sahel region of Africa, 
the drying of the climate expands the surface cover 
of sand or bare earth as vegetation dies. Sand and 
bare earth (that is usually light in colour in arid 
areas where the soil contains very little humus) 
have a higher albedo than the vegetation that has 
died, leading to greater reflection of insolation. 
This can further exacerbate the aridity of an area as 
trees transpire water back into the atmosphere. 
Without the vegetation there will be reduced 
precipitation and therefore the region will become 
more arid.  
 
 
 
 
Albedo changes in temperate regions 
The dying back of forest areas, whether caused by human action through deforestation or natural processes, usually 
increases the albedo of an area as forests absorb most of the insolation in the area as they are a darker colour. Once 
the albedo increases, reflected radiation usually rises (depending on the state of the soil and the vegetation that 
replaces the forest). Again reduced transpiration means reduced precipitation and therefore less trees grow.  
 
Questions to complete: 
1. Define ​albedo [​ 2] 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Explain how changes in the albedo of the Arctic could cause: 
a. Negative feedback [2] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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LT: To examine changes in the global energy balance resulting from ​solar radiation variations​, 
terrestrial albedo changes​ and ​methane gas release​ and the role of feedback loops 
b. Positive feedback [2] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Changes in the albedo in other regions around the world can also cause feedback loops. Identify which type 
of feedback is most likely (negative or positive) and explain why this could occur [1+2] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Methane gas release Permafrost = permanently frozen ground 
 
Methane is a very powerful greenhouse gas, enormous volumes of which 
are stored in frozen soils in Earth’s permafrost regions. Methane is 
created in the upper level of the Earth’s surface by microorganisms and 
then released into the atmosphere. Methane passes into the atmosphere 
when plants and animals decompose, when animals emit wind from their 
anus, when manure decomposes, and it is released from swamps, peat 
bogs, landfills and rice padis. 
 
Around ¼ of Earth’s surface is affected by continuous or discontinuous 
permafrost including polar and alpine regions (see diagram on the left). 
Permafrost formed during past glacial periods. Some researchers estimate 
that the amount of methane in permafrost equates to more than double 
the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.  
 
Increased levels of methane increases temperatures at the ground surface by enhancing the natural greenhouse 
effect. This increase in temperatures leads to an increase in evaporation, producing more water vapour in the 
atmosphere, and increased precipitation. As water vapour is a greenhouse gas, the increase in humidity triggers a 
positive feedback loop which amplifies the impact of the rise in methane concentration. In theory, this could take 
Earth’s climate beyond a ‘tipping point’ (the point of no return). However it could be argued that increased 
evaporation will lead to increased cloud cover and therefore a higher albedo, thus reducing temperatures and the 
melting of permafrost.  

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LT: To examine changes in the global energy balance resulting from ​solar radiation variations​, 
terrestrial albedo changes​ and ​methane gas release​ and the role of feedback loops 
Watch ​this​ video about the problems of permafrost melting. 
 
Questions to complete: 
1. Identify three natural sources of methane [3] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. Explain how the melting of permafrost could cause: 
a. Negative feedback [2] 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
b. Positive feedback [2]