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NotesESSTopic 6.2
Unit 6 · Atmosphere and Climate Change · Topic 6.2

IB ESS — Climate change—causes and impacts

Topic 6.2 examines the enhanced greenhouse effect, evidence for anthropogenic climate change, and the observed and predicted impacts on natural and human systems. Students learn to interpret climate data, evaluate the strength of evidence, and analyse regional impacts.

6.2 FlashcardsExam technique guidePractice questions

Key concepts in Climate change—causes and impacts

Key Idea: Topic 6.2 explains the **evidence** for climate change (direct + proxy), key trends (temperature, CO₂, sea level, ice), why current warming is mainly **anthropogenic**, and the major **impacts** on physical systems, ecosystems, and societies.

📈 Evidence: direct vs proxy

Direct measurements: Instrument temperature records. CO₂ monitoring. Satellites (ice extent, sea surface temperature). Sea level (tide gauges + satellites).

Proxy data: Ice cores. Tree rings. Corals. Sediment/pollen records.

Evaluation skill: direct = precise but short timeframe; proxy = long timeframe but interpreted.

🔥 Causes: natural vs anthropogenic

🌍 Impacts (physical + ecosystems + people)

✅ Exam Checklist

What you'll learn in Topic 6.2

  • 6.2.1 Evidence for climate change
  • 6.2.2 Causes of climate change
  • 6.2.3 Impacts on natural systems
  • 6.2.4 Impacts on human systems

Exam relevance

ESS is assessed through Paper 1 (case study) and Paper 2 (short answer & structured questions). Concepts from this topic may appear in either paper, often combined with data analysis or real-world examples.

Suggested study order: Read the notes for each sub-topic below → test yourself with flashcards → attempt practice questions → review exam technique.

Study resources — 6.2 Climate change—causes and impacts

6.2.1

Evidence for climate change

NotesFlashcards
6.2.2

Causes of climate change

NotesFlashcards
6.2.3

Impacts on natural systems

NotesFlashcards
6.2.4

Impacts on human systems

NotesFlashcards

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Topic 6.2 Climate change—causes and impacts forms a core part of Unit 6: Atmosphere and Climate Change in IB ESS. Mastering these concepts will strengthen your understanding of connected topics across the syllabus and prepare you for exam questions that require analysis, evaluation, and real-world application.

Frequently asked questions

What does Topic 6.2 Climate change—causes and impacts cover in IB ESS?
Topic 6.2 covers climate change—causes and impacts as part of the IB ESS syllabus. Students learn key concepts, definitions, and real-world examples that are tested in Paper 1 and Paper 2 exams.
How should I revise Climate change—causes and impacts for IB ESS exams?
Start by reading the micro-topic notes to understand each concept, then use flashcards to memorise key terms. Practise exam-style questions to apply your knowledge under timed conditions and review the marking criteria.
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6.1 Introduction to the atmosphere
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6.3 Climate change—mitigation and adaptation
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