Home

Biology

Global challenges

Global warming and its consequences

Select Lesson

Exam Board

Select an option

Biology practicals

Investigating specimens using microscopes

Investigating the effect of pH on amylase activity

Investigating molecules in food using food tests

Investigating osmosis in potatoes

Investigating the effect of antimicrobials

Investigating limiting factors of photosynthesis

Investigating the rate of respiration

Using field-work techniques

Ecosystems and material cycles

Ecosystems, competition and environmental changes

Trophic levels and biomass transfer

Human impacts on biodiversity

Conservation and maintaining biodiversity

The carbon cycle

The water cycle

Obtaining potable water

The nitrogen cycle

Pollution indicators - Higher

Decomposition and biogas

Exchange and transport in animals

Specialised exchange surfaces

Factors affecting the rate of diffusion

Human circulatory system

Aerobic and anaerobic respiration

Animal coordination, control and homeostasis

The human endocrine system

Hormones: adrenaline and thyroxine - Higher

Hormones in human reproduction

Treating infertility - Higher

Homeostasis and blood glucose

Controlling body temperature

The urinary system

Plant structures and their functions

Photosynthesis and limiting factors

Factors limiting the rate of photosynthesis - Higher

Water and mineral transport in plants

Plant adaptations

Plant hormones

Health, disease and the development of medicines

The relationship between health and disease

Communicable disease

Sexually transmitted infections

How the body fights disease

Vaccination, immunisation and medicines

Aseptic techniques

Drug development and testing

Monoclonal antibodies and their uses - Higher

Non-communicable diseases

Calculating BMI and the waist-to-hip ratio

Cardiovascular disease and treatment

Plant defences and diseases

Natural selection and genetic modification

Evolution by natural selection

Fossils as evidence for evolution

Classifying living organisms

Selective breeding

Uses and evaluation of genetic engineering

The process of genetic engineering - Higher

Uses of genetic engineering

Genetics

Meiosis, sexual and asexual reproduction

Sexual and asexual reproduction

DNA: structure, genes and chromosomes

Protein synthesis - Higher

Inheritance and genetic diagrams

Inherited disorders

Blood groups, co-dominance and haemophilia

Types and sources of variation

The human genome project

Cells and control

The cell cycle and stages of mitosis

Cell differentiation, stem cells and ethics

The structure of the brain

The nervous system and the reflex arc

The eye: structure, reflexes and defects

Key concepts

Eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

Specialised animal and plant cells

Types of microscopes and calculations

Enzymes

Calorimetry and energy calculations

Transport systems in cells

Practical skills

Measuring techniques

Safety and ethics

Designing experiments

Methods of heating substances

Working with electronics

Random sampling and sampling methods

Comparing results using percentage change

Working scientifically

The scientific method

Science communication and ethics

Evaluating risks and hazards

Collecting data

Processing and presenting data

Units and equations

Structuring a scientific report and drawing conclusions

Uncertainties and evaluations

Explainer Video

Tutor: Jasmine

Summary

Global warming and its consequences

In a nutshell

Global warming is caused by greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, which cause the Earth to heat up. It has serious consequences such as flooding, changing species distribution, less biodiversity and changing migration patterns.

Greenhouse gases

Gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap energy from the Sun, which means not all of the energy is lost in space. This helps keep the Earth warm. These gases are called greenhouse gases. The levels of two greenhouse gases are increasing: these are carbon dioxide and methane. These increasing levels of greenhouse gases are causing the Earth to heat up. Global warming refers to an increase in the Earth's average temperature.

Consequences

The result of global warming could be serious and damaging. Some consequences of global warming are explained below.

Flooding

1.	Higher temperatures cause seawater to expand and ice to melt, so the sea level rises.
2.	This could cause flooding of low-lying land.
3.	As a result, habitats will be lost.

Changes in the distribution of species

1.	Global warming may lead to changes in rainfall and temperature.
2.	This could lead to animals and plants moving, this changes the distribution of species.
3.	If an area becomes warmer, species that survive well in warm conditions may spread further and species that need cooler temperatures may have a smaller area to live in.

Less biodiversity

1.	Some species may not survive a change in the climate.
2.	These species could become extinct.
3.	As a result, biodiversity would decrease.

Changes in migration patterns

1.	Global warming could cause changes in migration patterns.
2.	Some birds may migrate further north as more northern areas are getting warmer.

Learn with Basics

Length:

Unit 1

The carbon cycle

Unit 2

The atmosphere and carbon dioxide

Jump Ahead

Optional

Unit 3