IB Biology HL 4.3.1 Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change

Practise analysing HL radiation and emissions evidence, including wavelength interactions, fossil-fuel drivers and atmospheric trends.

Exam points

Analyse wavelength data to explain how greenhouse gases trap outgoing infrared radiation.
Evaluate fossil-fuel and atmospheric data as evidence for contemporary climate change.
Identify greenhouse gases and explain their roles in enhanced warming.

[Maximum number: 2]

Average human internal (core) body temperature is $36.4^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ , with slight variations between day and night. The average surface temperature of the Earth in the 20th century was $13.9^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ . It has now risen to $14.8^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ .

Explain how the burning of fossil fuels has contributed to the increase in the Earth's temperature.

a. $\quad \mathrm{CO}_{2}$ is released/is a greenhouse gas;

b. long wave radiation/heat/infrared (emitted by the Earth) trapped/absorbed by $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ ;

c. (so) heat retained in atmosphere;

Marking guidance:

Do not award a mark for 'Earth's temperature is increased' as this is in the question.

b. Do not accept 'reflected back' instead of trapped or absorbed and do not accept absorption of any type of radiation from the sun.

The word 'heat' can be used for both marking points b. and c. but in b. the idea is heat retained by $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ the whereas the idea in c. is heat retention in the atmosphere.

2
max

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D4.3.1—Anthropogenic causes question 1