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NotesESS HLTopic 6.2
Unit 6 · Atmosphere and Climate Change · Topic 6.2

IB ESS HL — Climate change—causes and impacts

HL Topic 6.2 extends climate science with detailed analysis of climate models, feedback mechanisms, and regional impact projections. Students evaluate the reliability of climate predictions, interpret complex datasets, and assess the cascading effects of climate change on coupled systems.

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

At Higher Level, ESS includes an extended essay component and deeper analytical questioning. Expect longer data-response questions and more complex case study scenarios in both Paper 1 and Paper 2.

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 HL. 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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