Introduction
One of the most common sources of confusion for ESS students is the distinction between the greenhouse effect and global warming. Both concepts are central to the 2026 first assessment syllabus, and examiners frequently test them—sometimes directly, sometimes hidden in broader climate change questions.
Understanding this difference is crucial because it helps you avoid one of the biggest mistakes students make in ESS exams: using the terms interchangeably. To score top marks, you need to define both, explain how they interact, and use case studies or data to support your answers.
Quick Start Checklist for ESS Students
When revising this topic, make sure you can:
- Define the greenhouse effect as a natural process.
- Define global warming as the human-driven enhancement of the greenhouse effect.
- Identify greenhouse gases and their sources.
- Explain the impacts of enhanced greenhouse gas concentrations.
- Apply examples and case studies in exam answers.
The Greenhouse Effect: A Natural Process
- The greenhouse effect is natural and essential for life on Earth.
- It occurs when certain gases in the atmosphere (CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, water vapor) trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space.
- Without this natural process, Earth’s average temperature would be around –18°C, too cold to sustain current life.
