IB Biology SL Course @ Trinity Topic 4: Ecology; sub-topic 4.

4 Climate change

Assignment on climate change

Purpose: self-directed learning in sub-topic 4.4: Climate change

Resources: textbook and the web

Length: approximately 4 A4 pages

Due: Friday 27 November in class.

PART 1 – Questions on Understandings

Question 1 (2 marks)

Why are the gases carbon dioxide and water vapour the most significant in producing a greenhouse
effect?

Carbon dioxide and water vapour concentrations in the atmosphere are high, therefore its
effect is significant.

Question 2 (2 marks)

Identify other atmospheric gases that have less impact on the greenhouse effect and those which
have no effect.

Less impact: methane, nitrogen oxides

no effect: ozone, oxygen

Question 3 (2 marks)

What factors determine the warming impact of a greenhouse gas?

Concentration and ability to absorb long wavelength radiation

Question 4 (1 mark)

What produces long wave radiation on earth?

Sun
IB Biology SL Course @ Trinity Topic 4: Ecology; sub-topic 4.4 Climate change

Question 5 (2 marks)

Why does longer wave radiation produce a greenhouse effect?

They are absorbed by greenhouse gases and infrared heat energy is emitted

Question 6 (2 marks)

Explain the benefit for life on earth of a greenhouse effect (irrespective of the human-caused
addition to it.

Keeps the earth surface warm and habitable

Part 2 – Data analysis: carbon dioxide concentrations and global temperatures

Answer data-based questions 1 – 4 on page 233 of the textbook. (10 marks)

1. Yes. The points align with the direct measurements closely, and the direct measurements
show an exponential increase in concentration, which is suggested by the ice core
measurements.
2.
3. A) 0.43 b) 0.66
4. a) CO2 release decreased when global average temperature decreased for a few years,
although the overall CO2 release increased.
b) No. The falls in average global temperature may be due to decrease in CO2 concentration,
and the overall trends are still correlated.

Part 3 – Data analysis: Greenhouse gases and climate patterns

Answer data-based questions 1 and 2 on phenology on page 234 of the textbook (5 marks)

1. a) 1990
b) 1970
2. a) negative correlation
b) yes, difference in mean temperature increases towards the end of the 20 th century,
variation in temperature is cyclical

Part 4 - Questions on Understandings

Question 7 (2 marks)

How can science determine that global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by
concentrations of greenhouse gases?

Examine correlations between global temperatures and greenhouse gas concentration over time

Question 8

Describe the link between industrialisation and climate change. (3 marks)

IB Biology SL Course @ Trinity Topic 4: Ecology; sub-topic 4.4 Climate change

Industrial revolution led to a greater occurrence of combustion which releases CO2 a major
greenhouse gas. The release of CO2 in the atmosphere increased its concentration, leading to
enhanced greenhouse effect and subsequent rise in temperature.

Question 9 (2 marks)

Account for the recent increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Industrial revolution and the increased combustion of fossil fuels

Part 5 – Data analysis: Comparing carbon dioxide emissions

Answer data-based questions 1 – 4 page 236 of textbook. (10 marks)

1. more industrial activity in the US than Brazil, greater land in US than Brazil
2. more industrially advanced, therefore requires more emission of CO2 due to fossil fuel
combustion.
3. Deforestation contributes to CO2 emission, which occurred more in Indonesia and Brazil.
4. Australia engages more heavily in coal mining which releases methane, a greenhouse gas.

Part 6 – Data analysis: Uncertainty in temperature rise projections

Answer data-based questions 1 – 8 on page 237 of the textbook. (20 marks)

1. AIFI
2. Maximum: 5.8
minimum: 1.3
3. 3.7-2.4=1.3
4. Greater increase of artic temperatures than global temperatures. B2 for artic temperature
shows a linear increase, whereas global average temperature is not linear.
5.
6. More confident since they all predict similar trends. However they could all be inaccurate
due to the degree of uncertainty
7. Despite the uncertainty of forecast, inaction is not justified. Trend of data from previous
decades indicate an increase in global temperature correlated with CO2 concentration,
which supports action to prevent the rise of temperature. Although forecast global
temperature is uncertain, multiple forecasts all indicate an increase in temperature.
8.

Part 7 – Applications. Extra web-based research in encouraged to answer the following questions.

Question 10 (4 marks)

Evaluate the claim that human activities are not causing climate change.

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IB Biology SL Course @ Trinity Topic 4: Ecology; sub-topic 4.4 Climate change

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Question 11 (4 marks)

With reference to scientific evidence, explain why coral reefs are threatened by increasing
concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide.

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End of assignment