GCSE-ready- Home
- Lessons
- KS3 Science
- The atmosphere, climate and resources
The atmosphere, climate and resources
🎬 The doodle video for this lesson is coming soon. Subscribe on YouTube to see it first.
The air around us is a mixture of gases. Human activity is changing it, and the Earth's resources are limited.
What is in the air?
Dry air is a mixture of gases.
Carbon dioxide and climate
Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) releases carbon dioxide. Deforestation means fewer trees take carbon dioxide out of the air.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas: it traps heat in the atmosphere.
More carbon dioxide is causing the Earth's average temperature to rise (global warming), which changes the climate: more extreme weather, melting ice and rising sea levels.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas: it traps heat in the atmosphere.
More carbon dioxide is causing the Earth's average temperature to rise (global warming), which changes the climate: more extreme weather, melting ice and rising sea levels.
Limited resources and recycling
The Earth's resources, such as metal ores and fossil fuels, are limited (finite): once used, they will not be replaced in our lifetimes.
Recycling metals, glass, paper and plastics saves raw materials, often saves energy and reduces landfill.
But recycling is not perfect: materials must be collected, sorted and transported, which also uses energy, and some materials cannot be recycled many times.
Recycling metals, glass, paper and plastics saves raw materials, often saves energy and reduces landfill.
But recycling is not perfect: materials must be collected, sorted and transported, which also uses energy, and some materials cannot be recycled many times.
What percentage of dry air is made up of gases other than nitrogen and oxygen?
- Nitrogen + oxygen = 78 + 21 = 99%
- 100 − 99
Answer: 1%
Air is about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon and 0.04% carbon dioxide. Burning fossil fuels and deforestation increase carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas causing global warming and climate change. Resources are finite; recycling helps but has costs.
The interactive lesson includes the diagrams for this topic.
Check you have got it
Answer 7 quick questions with instant marking. If you get one wrong, GCSE-ready shows you why and gives you another go. It is free, and you do not need an account.