1. Guru charan kumar
IB ESS
2013
SYSTEMS & MODELS WORKSHEET
The figure below shows a model of the climatic system.
Radiation outputs from
Earth-atmosphere
Atmosphere
Solar inputs to
Earth-atmosphere
Ocean
Oceanic
circulation
Atmospheric
circulation and
composition
Ice
CLIMATE
Land and
terrestrial
features
Human
activity
Earth-atmosphere system
External inputs and outputs of the climatic system
Internal interactions of the climatic system
[Source: O’Hare and Sweeney, The Atmospheric System, (1986), Oliver and Boyd, page 189]
(a)
Define the term model.
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(2)
(b)
Identify two internal interactions in the figure above which affect the climate.
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(1)
(c)
List four gases which are part of the atmosphere.

2. Guru charan kumar
IB ESS
2013
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(2)
(d)
State how solar inputs and Earth outputs differ in their radiation wavelengths.
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(1)
(e)
Outline the ways in which human activity can have an impact on climate.
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(3)
(f)
Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the model in the figure above for describing
the atmospheric system.
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(4)
(Total 13 marks)