ESS IB FINAL REVIEW EXAM 2025
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Greenhouse gas - ANS a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared
radiation such as CFC's and carbon dioxide (unlike non greenhouse gases) Any gas that traps
radiation in the Earth's atmosphere is a GHG.
5 major greenhouse gases - ANS -carbon dioxide
-nitrous oxides
-Tropospheric ozone
-Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
-methane
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) - ANS a scientific body under the United
Nations. It reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic
information and data produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change
greenhouse effect - ANS the process by which the sun's thermal heat is trapped in the
planet's lower atmosphere, distributed in all directions, and consequently causing the average
surface temperature to rise (this is considered to be a good process, but not in a positive
feedback way)
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, "enhanced" greenhouse effect - ANS increase in the natural greenhouse effect resulting from
increases in atmospheric concentrations of GHGs due to emissions from human activities, Rise
in temperature from human effects of Greenhouse gases
global dimming - ANS a decline in the amount of light reaching the earth's surface because of
increased air pollution, which reflects more light back into space
carbon trading - ANS a factory can produce only one certain amount of CO2 (carbon credits)
carbon taxes - ANS if factories, other industries, etc. pollute they will pay money for the
amount of pollution
Kyoto Protocol - ANS controlling global warming by setting greenhouse gas emissions targets
for developed countries, nations who signed had to cut C emissions by 5% then raised to 12.5%
USA and Saudi Arabia didn't sign, in 2005, these rates were legal, signed in 1997, exempted
China
effects of global dimming - ANS -leads to slower evaporation rates
-causes reduction in amount of precipitation (resulting in drought and famine)
-alteration of world's rain belt
-counteracts effects of global warming
point source pollution - ANS comes from an easily identifiable source, for example visible car
exhaust fumes, and is considered more manageable (because the source of the pollution can be
directly identified it is easier to stop the pollutant), more localized, easier to legal action. Ex:
Factories, Power plants, etc.
non-point source pollution - ANS comes from a more diffuse source, not easily identified, not
2
well managed( ex. pollution is runoff from fields)(because the source of the pollution is harder
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to identify, it takes more resources to find the source and stop its spread)
@COPYRIGHT SIRJOEL 2025/2026
, 4 major pollutant sources - ANS fossil fuels
domestic waste
industrial waste
agricultural waste
domestic waste - ANS food waste, sewage, rubbish (glass, plastics, paper, wood, metals),
extremely hard to get rid of because isn't recycled, part of solid waste
industrial waste - ANS heavy metals, heat (in air and/or water), acids, part of solid waste
agricultural waste - ANS fertilizers, animal waste, and pesticides contaminate water sources,
part of solid waste
BOD (biological oxygen demand) - ANS the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by anaerobic
organisms in a body of water to break down organic material present in a given water sample
(high BOD low OD)
reduce - ANS involves altering and decreasing pollution through education and incentives
(includes using technology and reusing and recycling)
regulate - ANS involves setting imposed standards and introducing measures for getting rid
of pollutants from waste
restore - ANS involves restoring ecosystems through extracting pollutants from the
environment and restocking and replanting animal populations (costs a lot of money and isn't
always a long term solution).
3
Page
@COPYRIGHT SIRJOEL 2025/2026
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Greenhouse gas - ANS a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared
radiation such as CFC's and carbon dioxide (unlike non greenhouse gases) Any gas that traps
radiation in the Earth's atmosphere is a GHG.
5 major greenhouse gases - ANS -carbon dioxide
-nitrous oxides
-Tropospheric ozone
-Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
-methane
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) - ANS a scientific body under the United
Nations. It reviews and assesses the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic
information and data produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change
greenhouse effect - ANS the process by which the sun's thermal heat is trapped in the
planet's lower atmosphere, distributed in all directions, and consequently causing the average
surface temperature to rise (this is considered to be a good process, but not in a positive
feedback way)
1
Page
@COPYRIGHT SIRJOEL 2025/2026
, "enhanced" greenhouse effect - ANS increase in the natural greenhouse effect resulting from
increases in atmospheric concentrations of GHGs due to emissions from human activities, Rise
in temperature from human effects of Greenhouse gases
global dimming - ANS a decline in the amount of light reaching the earth's surface because of
increased air pollution, which reflects more light back into space
carbon trading - ANS a factory can produce only one certain amount of CO2 (carbon credits)
carbon taxes - ANS if factories, other industries, etc. pollute they will pay money for the
amount of pollution
Kyoto Protocol - ANS controlling global warming by setting greenhouse gas emissions targets
for developed countries, nations who signed had to cut C emissions by 5% then raised to 12.5%
USA and Saudi Arabia didn't sign, in 2005, these rates were legal, signed in 1997, exempted
China
effects of global dimming - ANS -leads to slower evaporation rates
-causes reduction in amount of precipitation (resulting in drought and famine)
-alteration of world's rain belt
-counteracts effects of global warming
point source pollution - ANS comes from an easily identifiable source, for example visible car
exhaust fumes, and is considered more manageable (because the source of the pollution can be
directly identified it is easier to stop the pollutant), more localized, easier to legal action. Ex:
Factories, Power plants, etc.
non-point source pollution - ANS comes from a more diffuse source, not easily identified, not
2
well managed( ex. pollution is runoff from fields)(because the source of the pollution is harder
Page
to identify, it takes more resources to find the source and stop its spread)
@COPYRIGHT SIRJOEL 2025/2026
, 4 major pollutant sources - ANS fossil fuels
domestic waste
industrial waste
agricultural waste
domestic waste - ANS food waste, sewage, rubbish (glass, plastics, paper, wood, metals),
extremely hard to get rid of because isn't recycled, part of solid waste
industrial waste - ANS heavy metals, heat (in air and/or water), acids, part of solid waste
agricultural waste - ANS fertilizers, animal waste, and pesticides contaminate water sources,
part of solid waste
BOD (biological oxygen demand) - ANS the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by anaerobic
organisms in a body of water to break down organic material present in a given water sample
(high BOD low OD)
reduce - ANS involves altering and decreasing pollution through education and incentives
(includes using technology and reusing and recycling)
regulate - ANS involves setting imposed standards and introducing measures for getting rid
of pollutants from waste
restore - ANS involves restoring ecosystems through extracting pollutants from the
environment and restocking and replanting animal populations (costs a lot of money and isn't
always a long term solution).
3
Page
@COPYRIGHT SIRJOEL 2025/2026
