The atmosphere and human activities — IGCSE Environmental Management (0680) questions by topic
Naming the two unlabelled gases in a pie chart of unpolluted atmosphere composition, stating the compound responsible for smog, tracing carbon through the carbon cycle diagram, and completing sentences on the El Nino Southern Oscillation are typical demands, worth between 4 and 30 marks across 25 real questions from 2023 to 2025 papers.
State, suggest, complete, explain and describe lead the command words, and state on a gas-composition question means naming the specific gas rather than a general category like 'pollutant'. Because several questions test precise atmospheric chemistry knowledge, drafting an answer and checking it against instant marking is a fast way to confirm a named gas or layer is exactly the one the mark scheme credits.
What examiners look for
- A recurring criticism is naming carbon dioxide where a different specific gas was actually required.
- Examiners note relatively few candidates identified the ozone layer's role in the natural greenhouse effect.
- Reports flag descriptions of the water needed for cyclone formation as vague, lacking the specific surface temperature and depth detail the syllabus requires.
- Strong answers correctly named nitrogen and oxygen as the missing atmospheric gases, gave specific reference to ultraviolet radiation linked to skin cancer and cataracts, and knew tropical cyclones form at sea within the tropical latitude band.
May–June 2025, Paper 11
The diagram shows some of the gases in unpolluted, dry air. The bar shows: an unnamed gas at 78%, other gases at 1%, and oxygen at 21%. Complete the label for the gas which is 78%…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 12
Complete the sentences about the El Niño Southern Oscillation phenomenon. Use words from the list. Each word may be used once, more than once or not at all. Word list: Atlantic,…
Answer this question and get it marked →The bar chart shows the annual rainfall at a weather station from 2003 to 2023. The y-axis is annual rainfall / mm (0 to 900) and the x-axis is year (2003 to 2023). The highest…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2025, Paper 13
The diagram shows some of the gases in unpolluted, dry air. Complete the label for the gas which is 78% of unpolluted, dry air.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 11
Complete the following statements about a typhoon: 'A typhoon can only form above the ocean between …… and …… degrees north or south of the Equator. The ocean must be at least ………
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 12
The diagram shows part of the carbon cycle, with atmospheric carbon dioxide, land plants, animals and microorganisms, dissolved carbon dioxide, aquatic plants and algae, aquatic…
Answer this question and get it marked →The diagram shows a catalytic converter used in vehicles: harmful exhaust gases enter from the engine, the catalyst promotes a chemical reaction to convert harmful gases into less…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 13
Complete the following statements about a typhoon: 'A typhoon can only form above the ocean between …… and …… degrees north or south of the Equator. The ocean must be at least ………
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2024, Paper 22
The graph shows the mean temperature and precipitation at a weather station in Uzbekistan over a ten-year period (temperature /°C and precipitation /mm, both 0–40, by month…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 11
Ozone depletion occurs in the atmosphere. The diagram shows the structure of the atmosphere as concentric layers above the Earth's surface, labelled (from outermost to innermost):…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 12
The map shows the Pacific Ocean (Asia, North America, South America, Australia). El Niño and La Niña describe changes in ocean currents in the Pacific Ocean. These changes can…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2024, Paper 22
Tree rings are used to investigate past environmental conditions. One tree ring represents one year of tree growth. Tree rings are wider apart in wet years and are closer together…
Answer this question and get it marked →Air quality is measured in Greece. The concentrations of particulates, oxides of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide are measured. Explain why sulfur dioxide in the air is a concern.
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 11
A world map is shown with a grid of latitude (90°N to 60°S) and longitude (180°W to 180°E). Write the letter T on the map in one location where tropical cyclones form.
Answer this question and get it marked →The pie chart represents the composition of the unpolluted atmosphere. The pie chart is not complete: it shows a sector labelled 'other' and two unlabelled sectors. Complete the…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 12
The diagram shows the layers in the atmosphere as four boxes side by side with their altitudes: 'troposphere 0–12 km', then three blank layers labelled '12–50 km', '…… km', and…
Answer this question and get it marked →May–June 2023, Paper 13
A world map is shown with a grid of latitude (90°N to 60°S) and longitude (180°W to 180°E). Write the letter T on the map in one location where tropical cyclones form.
Answer this question and get it marked →The pie chart represents the composition of the unpolluted atmosphere. The pie chart is not complete: it shows a sector labelled 'other' and two unlabelled sectors. Complete the…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 11
State three processes that add carbon to the atmosphere.
Answer this question and get it marked →Smog is one type of air pollution. State the name of one type of compound that is responsible for smog.
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 12
The graph shows methane concentration in the atmosphere (parts per billion, 1600–1900) from 1985 to 2020. The concentration is about 1800 ppb in 2010 and about 1880 ppb in 2020.…
Answer this question and get it marked →The diagram shows the structure of the Earth's atmosphere as four layers from the ground up: troposphere, stratosphere, an unlabelled layer, and thermosphere. Complete the diagram…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 13
One impact of climate change is the melting of Arctic Sea ice. The graph shows the average area of Arctic Sea ice each year from 1980 to 2020 (average area / million km²,…
Answer this question and get it marked →October–November 2023, Paper 22
Halley is a British scientific research station in Antarctica, built on a floating ice shelf 150 m thick in the Weddell Sea. 11% of the area of Antarctica is floating ice shelves.…
Answer this question and get it marked →Ice cores are cut into thin slices and each slice is analysed to investigate the climate in the past. Suggest why thin slices of an ice core are individually analysed rather than…
Answer this question and get it marked →