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Natural and human causes of climate change
I can explain the natural and human causes of climate change.
Lesson 2 of 6
New
New
- Year 10
- AQA
Natural and human causes of climate change
I can explain the natural and human causes of climate change.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- There are natural and human causes of climate change.
- Natural causes of climate change include orbital changes, asteroid collisions, volcanic activity and solar output.
- Human causes of climate change include the use of fossil fuels, agriculture and deforestation.
- Human causes of climate change produce greenhouse gases, enhancing the greenhouse effect and leading to global warming.
Keywords
Milankovitch cycles - natural changes in Earth's orbit and tilt over thousands of years that influence solar energy and Earth’s climate
Greenhouse gas - a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing to Earth's warming, e.g. CO₂ and methane
Enhanced greenhouse effect - the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activities, leading to global warming
Common misconception
Climate change is only caused by human activity.
Human activity has been significant in recent climate change, but natural factors have caused changes to the climate over millions of years.
It is important to ensure a good understanding of both the natural greenhouse effect and the enhanced greenhouse effect, the use of videos and diagrams to support this is key.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the correct definition to each key term.
Match the correct definition to each key term.
Q2.Which of these statements correctly describe the Quaternary period?
Which of these statements correctly describe the Quaternary period?
Temperatures have shown a gradual increase
Q3.Since 1880 there has been a more increase in global temperatures, accelerated by human activities.
Since 1880 there has been a more increase in global temperatures, accelerated by human activities.
Q4.Which of these are examples of historical evidence of climate change (going back more than 200 years)?
Which of these are examples of historical evidence of climate change (going back more than 200 years)?
Global temperature records
Sea level rise
Q5.Which of these are examples of recent evidence of climate change (within the last 100 years)?
Which of these are examples of recent evidence of climate change (within the last 100 years)?
Diaries and paintings
Fossil record
Q6.Scientists take from the deep ice sheet in Antarctica and these have provided climate data for the last 400 000 years.
Scientists take from the deep ice sheet in Antarctica and these have provided climate data for the last 400 000 years.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Match the Milankovitch cycles to its correct description.
Match the Milankovitch cycles to its correct description.
Q2.The number of sunspots rises and falls over an year cycle.
The number of sunspots rises and falls over an year cycle.
Q3.Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons and are all greenhouse gases emitted by human activity.
Carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons and are all greenhouse gases emitted by human activity.
Q4.Human activity has caused the greenhouse effect.
Human activity has caused the greenhouse effect.
