Fuels and the global environment
Web Guides
The headings in this guide are taken from the specification for the course from AQA.
1 The carbon cycle: natural reservoirs of carbon compounds, scale of fluxes between reservoirs
Reservoirs of carbon compounds are parts of the earth-air-water system through which carbon atoms cycle as a result of respiration, photosynthesis, burning and other processes. The oceans are one large reservoir, the atmosphere is another. You can find out more from a series of short on-line fact sheets for 'older readers' dealing with 'climate change' from the The Atmospheric Research and Information Centre site at Manchester Metropolitan University. Start with fact sheet 01 and then move to sheet 03.
One large source of carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere is that from the burning of fossil fuels, but what exactly are the figures? The web site for the Goddard Institute of Space Studies provides a lot of data about climate change and global warming and one research report provides such data. The colourful chart displayed is explained in the article but it can take a while to appreciate what it all means. You might also like to work through parts of the UK Environmental Change Network's tutorial on climate change or a more challenging exploration of this topic.
2 Changes in the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, changes and possible causes
If a connection is to be drawn between changes in the Earth's climate and the increased presence of carbon dioxide and other Greenhouse gases, then data on those gases needs to be available over a long timescale. The Mauna Loa atmospheric carbon dioxide measurements constitute the longest continuous record of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations available in the world. Click on the red button at the top of the web page to see a plot of the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere from 1960 to 2000. The link to a 'nondispersive infrared gas analyser' on the web page simply gives you a picture of the instrument with no technical details. You are not expected to understand the method used to make the measurements.
3 The greenhouse effect and its significance for the Earth's climate
What precisely is the Greenhouse Effect and how is, or might it, affect the Earth's climate? The fact sheets on the Atmospheric Research and Information Centre web site are a help here. Fact sheet 06 is particularly appropriate.
More detailed questions are broached by the US Environmental Protection Agency, Global warming site. Click on 'impacts' to find out more about global warming and the questions:
- What is the problem?
- What do we know?
- How serious is it?
- Now? In the future?
- What's being done? and
- What can I do?
This site also includes a collection of texts, charts, tables, and graphics suitable for downloading for reproduction. These could be useful if you are asked to give a talk on this topic. You can find the slides by clicking on 'Reports/slides' in the navigation bar to the left of the screen. A similar site Global Warming: Focus on the Future provides a look at the relevant data, outlines human impacts on global warming, provides details of the Greenhouse Effect and the sources of greenhouse gases, together with why global warming is a problem and how we can all help.
But what has been and is actually happening already? On the Global Warming: Early Warning Signs site you can click on particular locations on the map to see details of the impacts that global warming is thought to have had, or might have in the future. So what should be the response to such signs? The Global Warming International Centre site provides information on global warming science and policy for governments and industry. Of particular use might be its news and archive sections.
4 The link between atmospheric carbon dioxide levels and climate. Use of computer models to predict weather patterns: advantages and limitations of computer modelling
To produce action from governments on a global scale requires sound scientific evidence. Fact sheet 07 on the Atmospheric Research and Information Centre site has some information to set you thinking. Similarly it is useful to be able to model situations and predict the effects, particularly when they can be matched to both current and expected changes. The Met Office site has an excellent review of recent research into climate change based on such computer modelling. For more advanced information return to the Goddard Institute of Space Studies site to view another research report or go further and explore some of the links on its core research page.
So what policies could be adopted to deal with climate change, or at least adapt to it? The US Global Change Research Information Office provides information on climate change and its impacts. There is also a section looking at common misconceptions about climate change together with a comprehensive booklet on this topic which can be printed out.
A set of four scenarios predicting carbon dioxide concentrations for different economic and population assumptions. http://climateprediction.net/schools/emissions_development.php
5 Data, explanations and causal links
This is a good topic for exploring some of the ideas about science.
So are you convinced? Take a look at Fact sheet 11 on the Atmospheric Research and Information Centre site and at the article called A Common Sense Climate Index:Is Climate Changing Noticeably? by James Hanson and others on the Goddard Institute for Space Studies site. There is plenty of data in the article.
NASAs Global Change Master Directory is a massive resource of information on the biosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, paleoclimate, solar activity, instrumentation etc. relating to global change. This is a key resource for technical information.
But not everyone believes in global warming and the Still waiting for Greenhouse site provides articles, papers, data and links, many identical to those from believers but with totally different interpretations of the data. It is interesting to compare and contrast views. What indeed do you think?
6 Overview of the issues
Now for an excellent overview of the whole topic of climate change and global warming, have a look at The Global Warming Debate by James Hanson of the Goddard Institute of Space Studies.
For the latest views of scientists, visit the The International Panel on Climate Change site. While for news of the social and economic issues arising from climate change visit One World International Foundation's Campaign on Climate Change.
Other Resources
Exploring the Issues, photocopiable study guide on climate change with discussion points and activities can be ordered from
Independence Educational Publishers, PO Box 295, Cambridge CB1 3XP
Tel: 01223 566130
Fax: 01223 566131
Renewable Energy World Magazine
James & James (Science Publishers) Ltd
35-37 William Road
London NW1 3ER
Fax 020 7387 8998
Articles can be viewed online, and archives searched for suitable material.
AS General studies resource pack 2000
ISBN 086003 246 9
Topics: Green politics
They are written by Dr Colin Swatridge and published by Phillip Allen Updates