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Date November 2017 Marks available 1 Reference code 17N.1.bp.03
Level SL and HL Paper 1 Time zone
Command term State Question number 03 Adapted from N/A

Question

The graph shows external forcings, such as greenhouse gases, causing changes in the Earth’s atmospheric system.

[Source: Figure SPM.2 from Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Working Group I Contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.]

State which external forcing shown on the graph has the greatest impact on temperature in the atmosphere.

[1]
a.

Outline what is meant by “albedo”.

[2]
b.

Briefly describe the difference between stratospheric ozone and tropospheric ozone.

[2]
c.

Explain two environmental consequences of global climatic change (global warming).

Consequence 1:

 

 

 

Consequence 2:

 

 

 

 

[6]
d.

Markscheme

CO2 / carbon dioxide / greenhouse gases [1]

a.

Solar radiation/heat reflected by the surface [1].

Award [1] for further development such as:

b.

The difference can be addressed by using own knowledge or with reference to the graph.

Award [1] for valid difference and [1] for further development/detail.

Possibilities include:

c.

Award [1] for a valid consequence resulting from increased temperature of global warming and [2] for further development/exemplification related to the natural environment.

For example: Global warming is leading to melting of the ice caps [1]; the meltwater from this leads to a global rise in sea level [1], which will result in the loss of some low-lying islands (or provides relevant example, eg Kiribati) [1].

Other possibilities include:

d.

Examiners report

[N/A]
a.
[N/A]
b.
[N/A]
c.
[N/A]
d.

Syllabus sections

Core » Patterns in environmental quality and sustainability » Atmosphere and change
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