2.1 Causes of global climate change

Unit Contents

• 2.1.1 The atmospheric system
• 2.1.2 The global energy balance
• 2.1.3 The enhanced greenhouse effect

2.1 Causes of global climate change is part of the core — Global change (Paper 2). The geographic inquiry for this sub-topic is: how natural and human processes affect the global energy balance

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Geographic inquiry: How natural and human processes affect the global energy balance

• The atmospheric system, including the natural greenhouse effect and energy balance (incoming shortwave radiation and outgoing longwave radiation)
• Changes in the global energy balance, and the role of feedback loops, resulting from:
  • solar radiation variations, including global dimming due to volcanic eruptions
  • terrestrial albedo changes and feedback loops
  • methane gas release and feedback loops
• The enhanced greenhouse effect and international variations in greenhouse gas sources and emissions, in relation to economic development, globalization and trade

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