Understanding Climate Change Measurement in IB ESS
In IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS), climate change is a core concept under Topic 7: Global Change, exploring how human and natural systems influence Earth’s climate. Measuring climate change involves monitoring temperature trends, greenhouse gas concentrations, ice cover, and sea levels to detect long-term global patterns.
Understanding how climate change is measured allows IB ESS students to evaluate evidence-based environmental science, linking data analysis, sustainability, and global systems thinking.
Key Indicators Used to Measure Climate Change
1. Atmospheric Temperature Records
- Surface temperature monitoring provides direct evidence of global warming.
- NASA and the IPCC use global temperature datasets collected from weather stations, ocean buoys, and satellites.
- Long-term averages show that global temperatures have increased by approximately 1.1°C since pre-industrial times.
2. Greenhouse Gas Concentrations
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O) are tracked using ground-based observatories like Mauna Loa (Hawaii).
- Ice core samples reveal ancient atmospheric compositions, showing clear trends of rising CO₂ since the Industrial Revolution.
3. Ocean Temperature and Sea-Level Rise
- Oceans absorb over 90% of excess heat trapped by greenhouse gases.
- Scientists use satellite altimeters to measure thermal expansion and melting ice contributions to rising sea levels.
