CBSE Class 11 Geography – World Climate and Climate Change

Chapter Overview

This chapter examines the Earth’s major climate types using the Köppen system, explores the natural and human-driven factors influencing climate, and delves into contemporary climate change—its evidence, causes (greenhouse gases, land use), impacts on water, biodiversity, and humans, and global response strategies.

Important Keywords

• Köppen climate classification: Divides world into five main zones (A–E) based on temperature & precipitation; H sometimes added for highlands :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}.
• Zone A–E: A (tropical), B (dry), C (temperate), D (continental), E (polar)
• Highland (H): Mountain climates over 1,500 m.
• Greenhouse gases: CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, H₂O trap heat in atmosphere :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}.
• Global warming: Increase of ~1 °C since pre-industrial era, mainly due to human activities :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.
• Climate change: Long‑term shifts in weather patterns, both natural and anthropogenic :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.
• Milankovitch cycles: Natural orbital variations influencing long-term climate :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.
• Albedo feedback: Reduced ice/cloud cover leads to higher warming :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.
• Carbon budget: Limit of CO₂ emissions to stay within 1.5 °C warming threshold (~130 Gt CO₂ remaining) :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.
• Arctic amplification: Arctic warming 3–4× faster than global average :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.