Describe four human activities that increase the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

AQA GCSE Chemistry (8462) — 4.9.1 The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere · Describe · 4 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

Model answer (4 marks)

Driving motor vehicles releases CO₂ from burning fossil fuels.
Electricity generation from fossil‑fuel power stations emits CO₂.
Raising livestock, especially cows, produces methane.
Organic waste in landfills decomposes anaerobically, releasing methane.

Examiner tips

  • Use the exact wording from the mark scheme (e.g. ‘carbon dioxide’ and ‘methane’).
  • Give one distinct activity per mark and keep sentences short.
  • Show the link between the activity and the gas released.

Common mistakes

  • Using vague terms like ‘cars’ instead of ‘driving motor vehicles’.
  • Mixing up CO₂ with other gases such as N₂O.
  • Failing to mention the specific gas (methane) for livestock and landfill activities.

Mark scheme (4 marks)

  1. Driving / use of motor vehicles releases carbon dioxide (from burning fossil fuels)
  2. Consuming / generating electricity (from fossil fuel power stations) releases carbon dioxide
  3. Raising livestock (e.g. cows) releases methane
  4. Decay of organic waste in landfill sites releases methane

Key terms in this question

greenhouse gases

Related

More The composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere questions

▶ Try answering this question with AI marking (free) →