CC8.2 — Global warming and mitigation (Edexcel 1SC0)
Evidence for climate change
- Temperature records: global average temperature has risen ~1.1°C since pre-industrial times.
- Ice core data: trapped air bubbles show CO₂ levels correlated with temperature over hundreds of thousands of years.
- Sea level rise: thermal expansion of oceans + melting ice sheets.
- Shifting seasons: earlier flowering of plants; changes in migration patterns.
Scale of effects
- Extreme weather events (flooding, droughts, heat waves) more frequent.
- Melting of polar ice → rising sea levels → flooding of low-lying areas.
- Ocean acidification → harm to coral reefs and marine life.
- Species extinction as habitats change faster than species can adapt.
Mitigation strategies
| Strategy | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro) | Reduces fossil fuel combustion; less CO₂ |
| Carbon capture and storage (CCS) | Captures CO₂ before it enters atmosphere |
| Reforestation | Trees absorb CO₂ by photosynthesis |
| Improved energy efficiency | Less energy needed → less combustion |
| Electric vehicles | No direct CO₂ emissions |
| International agreements (e.g. Paris Agreement) | Commits countries to emission reductions |
AI-generated · claude-opus-4-7 · v3-edexcel-combined-science