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. heat island effect
12. concrete
Chinese
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
1.
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
)
Name:
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
form of __________________ radiation.
It can pass through the __________.
 The greenhouse absorbs
short wave radiation and then
_____________.
 Heat is released in the form of
__________________ radiation. Most
heat cannot pass through the ________.
 ________ is trapped.
 The greenhouse is kept ________.
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 likes the action of glass?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
iii) What does the atmosphere contains?
The atmosphere contains
(1) _____________________________
(2) _____________________________
(3) _____________________________
2
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
2.
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
)
Name:
What is the greenhouse effect? (Textbook p.16-17)
Task 1
Define the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse effect refers to ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
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
(1) _______________________(二氧化碳)
(2) _______________________(氯氟碳)
(3) _______________________(甲烷)
(4) _______________________(臭氧)
(5) _______________________(氧化亞氮)
ii)
Which is the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere?
The most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is ___________________________.
iii) Name the greenhouses gases that are found naturally in the atmosphere according to their sources.
Greenhouse gas
Source
Respiration of living organism.
From oceans and by bacteria in soils.
Trees or leaves decompose in the environment where there is insufficient
oxygen.
3
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
Name:
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
)
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 ___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
ii)
What problem will be caused when there is increasing carbon dioxide?
When there is increasing carbon dioxide, ____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
4
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
Task 2:
Name:
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
)
Identify the human activities that are risible for the changes in the concentrates of the
greenhouse gases and explain how these activities cause the changes.
5
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
)
Name:
Table 1
Human activity
How the human activities intensifies the greenhouse effect
‧ Rice growing releases __________________.
‧ Cattle releases carbon dioxide through _________________, and
__________________ during the digestive process.
‧ The use of nitrogen fertilizers releases ____________________.
‧
‧ Cars, power stations and factories burn fossil fuels as a source of
power. This emits huge amounts of
___________________.
‧ Producing foams, refrigerants, air conditioners and aerosols release
________________ (chlorofluorocarbons).
‧

Burning trees releases ____________________.

Fewer trees are available for absorbing the extra amount of carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere

Decomposition in the ______________ releases methane.

Burning process in the ________________ emits carbon dioxide and
nitrous oxide
6
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
Name:
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
)
4. What are the causes of the changing climate in Hong Kong? (Textbook
p.20-22)
The following figure 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
1) Wong Chuk Hang
Urban / Suburban / Rural
2) Tsim Sha Tsui
Urban / Suburban / Rural
3) Sha Tin
Urban / Suburban / Rural
4) Tai Po
Urban / Suburban / Rural
5) Ta Kwu Ling
Urban / Suburban / Rural
Temperature
In general, which type of land use is hotter, urban or rural land use?
In general, _______________________ is hotter.
iii) How is this phenomenon called?
This phenomenon is called __________________________.
7
QESOSA Tong Kwok Wah Secondary School
Changing climate, changing environments 
Name:
2014-2015 S3 Geography
( )
S.3(
)
iv) Briefly explain the causes of this phenomenon.

There is less ______________________ to absorb carbon dioxide. As carbon dioxide is a kind
of _______________________, it can rise the _____________________.

There are many buildings are mainly made of _________________. They absorb and retain
_______________ effectively.

There are many buildings are denser and ____________. They block ________________and
prevent _________________.

Urban activities such as _______________________ and _______________________ create a
large demand on _________________. The source of power is mainly come from burning
_______________________. This produces a lot of greenhouse gases.
8