QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments  Name:
Unit 11.3
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
)
What is causing our climate to change?
Key Questions:
1.
What is a greenhouse?
2.
What is the greenhouse effect?
3.
What has led to the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases?
4.
What are the causes of the changing climate in Hong Kong?
Preparatory task
Find out the meaning of the BOLD words. Write down the definition in Chinese in the boxes below.
Passage A
1. (1) Greenhouse effect refers to the phenomenon that the (2) greenhouse gases are trapped in the
atmosphere. It is a natural warming process and it can keep the earth’s surface warm.
2. (3) Carbon dioxide, (4) Methane, (5) Nitrous oxide, (6) Ozone and (7) Chlorofluorocarbons
are the main greenhouse gases.
3. Over the past decades, the amount of greenhouse gas increased rapidly. They are mainly due to
human activities such as farming activities, burning (8) fossil fuels, (9) deforestation and
(10) waste treatment.
4. (11) Urban heat island effect refers to the temperature in urban areas is higher than that in rural areas.
5. Buildings in urban areas are mainly made up of (12) concrete. It can absorb and retain heat effectively.
English
1.
greenhouse effect
2.
greenhouse gases
3.
carbon dioxide
4.
methane
5.
nitrous oxide
6.
ozone
7.
chlorofluorocarbons
8.
fossil fuels
9.
deforestation
10. waste treatment
11. urban heat island effect
12. concrete
Chinese
溫室效應
溫室氣體
二氧化碳
甲烷
氧化亞氮
臭氧
氯氟碳
化石燃料
伐林
廢物處理
城市熱島效應
混凝土
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
Name:
)
1. What is a greenhouse?(Textbook p.16)
The following photo shows a greenhouse. Study the photo and answer the questions below.
 Insolation enters the greenhouse in the
 Heat is released in the form of
form of short wave radiation. It can pass
through the glass.
long wave radiation. Most heat cannot
pass through the glass.
 The greenhouse absorbs
short wave radiation and
then heats up.
 Heat is trapped.
 The greenhouse is kept warm.
Figure 1 A greenhouse
i)
Label how a greenhouse works and add arrows to show the movement of radiation of solar
radiation.
ii)
Does the atmosphere contain something that like the action of glass?
Yes, it does. If it does not, the global average surface
temperature would be -18C. It would be too cold for
many plants and animals to live.
iii) What does the atmosphere contain?
The atmosphere contains
(1) water vapour 水氣
(2) dust
(3) greenhouse gases
2
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
Name:
)
2. What is the greenhouse effect? (Textbook p.16-17)
Task 1
Define the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse effect refers to the phenomenon that the greenhouse gases are trapped
in the atmosphere. It is a natural warming process and it can keep the earth’s surface
warm.
Task 2
Study the following figure and complete the question below.
Figure 2 Major greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
i)
What are the major greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
The major greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are
ii)
(1) Carbon dioxide (二氧化碳)
(2) Chlorofluorocarbons (氯氟碳)
(3) Methane (甲烷)
(4) Ozone (臭氧)
(5) Nitrous oxide(氧化亞氮)
Which is the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere?
The most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is carbon dioxide.
iii) Name the greenhouses gases that are found naturally in the atmosphere according to their sources.
Greenhouse gas
Source
Carbon dioxide
Respiration of living organism.
Nitrous oxide
From oceans and by bacteria in soils.
3
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
Methane
Name:
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
)
Trees or leaves decompose in the environment where there is insufficient
oxygen.
.
3. What has led to the increase in the amount of greenhouse gases?
(Textbook p.16-17)
Task 1
The following figure shows the concentration of carbon dioxide in the global
atmosphere between 1880 and 2010. Study the photo and answer the questions below.
i)
Describe the trend in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the global atmosphere between 1880
and 2010.
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the global atmosphere
has increased steadily between 1880 and 1930
but it has increased rapidly from 1930 to 2011.
ii)
What problem will be caused when there is increasing carbon dioxide?
4
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
Name:
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
)
When there is increasing carbon dioxide, the temperature on the earth
will rise since it can retain heat. The earth becomes very hot.
It causes global warming.
Task 2
Identify the human activities that is risible for the changes in the concentrates of the
greenhouse gases and explain how these activities cause the changes.
Rice cultivation
Cattle rearing
Use of chemical fertilizers
Burning coal
Burning oil
Burning natural gas
Power generation
Foam insulation
Transport activities
Deforestation
Garbage treatment (Landfills)
Garbage treatment (incinerators)
5
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
Name:
)
Table 1
Human activity
Farming activities
How the human activities intensifies the greenhouse effect
‧ Rice growing releases ______methane______.
‧ Cattle releases carbon dioxide through ______respiration_____, and
______methane______ during the digestive process.
‧ The use of nitrogen fertilizers releases ______nitrous oxide______.
Burning of fossil fuels /
‧ Cars, power stations and factories burn fossil fuels as a source of
Industrial activities /
Transport activities
power. This emits huge amounts of
carbon dioxide .
‧ Producing foams, refrigerants, air conditioners and aerosols release
_____CFCs___ (chlorofluorocarbons).
Deforestation
Waste treatment

Burning trees releases ______carbon dioxide______

Fewer trees are available for absorbing the extra amount of carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere

Decomposition in the ______landfills______ releases methane.

Burning process in the ______incinerators______ emits carbon
dioxide and nitrous oxide
6
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
Name:
)
4. What are the causes of the changing climate in Hong Kong?
(Textbook p.20-22)
Below shows the temperature about five places in Hong Kong. Study it carefully and answer the
following questions.
i) Complete the following table.
Place
ii)
Land use
Temperature
1) Wong Chuk Hang
Urban / Suburban / Rural
22.2
2) Tsim Sha Tsui
Urban / Suburban / Rural
22.4
3) Sha Tin
Urban / Suburban / Rural
21.4
4) Tai Po
Urban / Suburban / Rural
21.6
5) Ta Kwu Ling
Urban / Suburban / Rural
20.2
In general, which type of land use is hotter, urban or rural land use?
In general, urban land use is hotter.
7
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
Name:
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
)
iii) How is this phenomenon called?
This phenomenon is called urban heat island effect.
iv) Briefly explain the causes of this phenomenon.

There is less vegetation to absorb carbon dioxide. As carbon dioxide is a kind of greenhouse
gases, it can rise the temperature.

There are many buildings are mainly made of concrete. They absorb and retain heat
effectively.

There are many buildings are denser and taller. They block wind flow and prevent cooling.

Urban activities such as transportation and air conditioning create a large demand on power.
The source of power is mainly come from burning fossil fuels. This produces a lot of
greenhouse gases.
8