Climate

Greenhouse gases already emitted into the atmosphere mean that further climate change is unavoidable, regardless of future emissions. However, we need to reduce our greenhouse-gas emissions to prevent even more climate change.

We also need to prepare for the climate change that we cannot avoid because of our previous emissions, which have set us on course for a changing climate.

The Environmental Science and Biology ‘codes’ underneath each link refer to the Higher and National 5 Resource guides produced by Education Scotland.

The Geography ‘codes’ listed below will link to the SQA Unit Specifications.

Early & first level

Information

• The greenhouse effect - What is the greenhouse effect? Find out more from this diagram. Click on the diagram to view a larger version.
  • Learning outcome: SCN 1-20a
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• Met Office - UK climate - The climate station map shows around 300 stations across the UK for which 1981-2010 averages are available. These stations provide an even coverage across the UK and include six mountain stations (above 500 masl) in Scotland and northern England.
  • Learning outcome: SOC 1-12b
• Visit Scotland - Overview of Scottish climate for tourists.
• Sustainability and climate change - For teachers: Information about sustainability and climate change from Keep Scotland Beautiful.
  • Learning outcome: SOC 1-08a
• BBC Bitesize - Videos - Videos from the BBC related to weather and climate.
  • Learning outcome: SOC 1-12b
• Climate and environment - Resources related to climate from Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD).
• Royal Meteorological Society - Resources

Have a go

• Met Office - mobile app - Find out about weather in your area using the Met Office app.
  • Learning outcome: SOC 1-12a
• OPAL - Climate survey - OPAL are no longer accepting results for the OPAL Climate Survey but you can still study climate using the resources on their page.
  • Learning outcome: SOC 1-12a

Second, third, fourth & senior level

Data

• Mean daily PM₁₀ concentrations across automatic monitoring sites in 2012 - How have greenhouse gases changed over history? This graph shows an increase since 1750 when industrial activities began. Click on the diagram to view a larger version.
  • Second level - Learning outcome: SCN 2-20b
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• Atmospheric concentrations of important greenhouse gases - How have greenhouse gases changed over history? This graph shows an increase since 1750 when industrial activities began. Click on the diagram to view a larger version.
  • Third & fourth level - Learning outcome: SCN 4-20b
  • Senior level - Learning outcomes: H.ES.Sustainability 3b
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• Average annual surface temperature in Scotland compared to the 1961–1990 average - How has Scotland’s average surface temperature differed from the 1960-1990 average over the past hundred years? Consider the impact on species across Scotland. Click on the diagram to view a larger version.
  • Senior level - Learning outcomes: N5.ES.Sustainability 3e & H.ES.Sustainability 3c
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• Sea levels - This graph shows the sea level variation globally since 1960. Can you explain these changes? What might have caused them?
  • Senior level - Learning outcomes: H.ES.Sustainability 3c & N5.ES.Sustainability 3e

Apps

• Met Office weather application - As the UK’s national meteorological service, the Met Office provides accurate and timely weather warnings and forecast on TV, radio and online. With the Met Office app you can get these UK and worldwide forecasts wherever you go. You can also subscribe to push notifications in the Met Office app, alerting you of any UK National Severe Weather Warnings issued.
  • Available from the App Store
  • Available from Google Play

Surveys

• OPAL climate survey - OPAL are no longer accepting results for the OPAL Climate Survey but you can still study climate using the resources on their page.
• Weather Observation Website - Can you see clouds, rain or sun? Can you identify the clouds you see? Can you record the wind speed? The UK Met Office Weather Observation Website (WOW). WOW allows anyone to submit their own weather data, anywhere in the world.
• Analysing climate data - Get involved with analysing climate change data. Help scientists recover Arctic and worldwide weather observations made by United States ships since the mid-19th century and help contribute to climate model projections.
• Analysing storms - Patterns in storms imagery are best recognised by the human eye, cyclonecenter.org need your help analysing these storms.
• Making weather observations - Get involved with analysing climate change data. Help scientists recover Arctic and worldwide weather observations made by United States ships since the mid-19th century by transcribing ships' logs. These transcriptions will contribute to climate model projections and will improve knowledge of past environmental conditions.
• Investigate cyclone patterns - Patterns in storms imagery are best recognised by the human eye, cyclone center need your help analysing these storms.

Resources

• The greenhouse effect - What is the greenhouse effect? Find out more from this diagram. See the diagram above to view a larger version.
  • Second level - Learning outcome: SOC 2-08a
• Climate challenge - What would you do about climate change if you were in charge? This challenge from the BBC lets you have a go at making the big decisions about climate. Requires Abobe Flash player to be enabled
  • Second level - Learning outcome: SOC 2-08a
• Where do the greenhouse gases come from? (PDF) - This table gives more information about which industries are producing them.
  • Second level - Learning outcome: SCN 2-20b

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