Climate & the Atmosphere is a core part of GCSE Environmental Science. Revise the key concepts and common mistakes below, then lock them in with the free games.
Key concepts
Greenhouse EffectTrapping of infrared heat in atmosphere by greenhouse gases.
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)Major GHG from burning fossil fuels and deforestation.
Methane (CH4)Potent GHG from livestock, wetlands, and landfills.
AnthropogenicCaused by human activity, e.g. fossil fuel burning.
Water VapourMost abundant GHG; amount controlled by temperature.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)GHG from fertilisers and industrial processes.
Ice CoresCylinders of ice revealing past CO2 and temperatures.
Sea-Level RiseRising oceans averaging about 3.3 mm per year.
Glacial RetreatShrinking glaciers worldwide as evidence of warming.
Carbon BudgetTotal CO2 emissions allowed for a temperature limit.
ppmParts per million; unit measuring gas concentrations.
Thermal ExpansionWater expanding as it warms, raising sea level.
Tipping PointThreshold beyond which change becomes self-reinforcing.
Paris Agreement2015 UN treaty aiming to limit warming to 1.5 C.
Common mistakes to avoid
Questions where students often pick the tempting wrong answer — make sure you know the right one:
How do greenhouse gases warm Earth?✗ They block heat from escaping into space (like a literal lid). ✓ They absorb infrared radiation emitted by Earth's surface and re-radiate some back down.
Why is a cold winter not evidence against climate change?✗ It is evidence - if it gets cold sometimes, warming must be wrong. ✓ Climate refers to long-term averages, not individual weather events.
Why is burning fossil fuels considered to disrupt the carbon cycle?✗ It creates new carbon that did not exist before. ✓ It releases carbon stored for millions of years much faster than the cycle can absorb.
Sea-level rise is driven by which two main processes?✗ Volcanoes and tides ✓ Thermal expansion and ice melt
Why is ice-albedo feedback a positive feedback loop?✗ Because warming is positive (a good thing). ✓ Less ice means less reflective surface, so more sunlight is absorbed, causing more warming and more melting.
Practise Climate & the Atmosphere — free games
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