Climate Change

1A.http://climate.jpl.nasa.gov/1B. Sea level viewer: http://climatechange.jpl.nasa.gov/SeaLevelViewer/seaLevelViewer.cfm1C. Climate Time machine: http://climate.jpl.nasa.gov/ClimateTimeMachine/climateTimeMachine.cfm1D. Global Change Theater: http://climate.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/index.cfm

Climate Change Activity.docPart 1

Climate Change Activity.docPart 2

 Sea Level rise in Hawaii SOEST’s Chip Fletcherhttp://www.soest.hawaii.edu/coasts/sealevel/

index.htmlWatch the movie: • The 1 m contour at high tide - the "Blue

Line Project"• Salt water flooding through storm

drains in Mapunapuna• Model of Sea-level rise, coastal erosion,

and wave overtopping in Waimanalo• Waikiki flooding under 1m of sea level

rise 

Climate Change Activity.docPart 3

Earth Science Highlights:http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/stories/

earth_sci_20040422/index.htmlWatch the movie:• SEASONS OF CHANGE: EVIDENCE OF ARCTIC

WARMING GROWS • THE CASE OF SOOT AND RECEDING ICE

    

Fig. 1 Age of Ice Core Layers Go to:http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warnings/stories/icecore.html  

Ice Core Exercise.doc

ActivityExploring the History of Climate ChangeStudents will analyze fabricated ice cores and record their physical and chemical characteristics.

• Compare pH and CO2. CO2 in solution with water

becomes carbonic acid, dropping the pH, so measuring relative pH should indicate relative levels of CO2.

• Measure particulates • Discussion Questions • Answer Ice Core Research

Greenhouse Effect.doc Purpose Measure the effect on temperature of a greenhouse gas (carbon dioxide—CO2) on a

simulated atmosphere and compare this data against an atmosphere with lower levels of CO2.

Space Atmosphere Land & Ocean

Origin Percent (%)incoming

Interaction/ Component

Percent(%)

Interaction/Component

Percent(%)

   

Sun

   

100

Absorbed by atmospheric H2O, dust, O3

16    

Absorbed by ground

   

51Absorbed in

clouds3

Backscattered by air

6

Reflected by clouds

20

Reflected by surface

4

Balance 100= +49 +51

Table 1: Global Energy Balance

Note: The percent of energy portions vary from author to author, depending upon the literature cited.

Natural• H2O

• CO2

• CH4

• O3

Anthropogenic• CO2

• N2O• CFCs • HFCs • PFCs • SF6

Under clear conditions, void of clouds, H2O vapor is the predominant

greenhouse gas (60% to 70%). The second largest source of greenhouse gas is CO2,

Under clear conditions, void of clouds, H2O vapor is the predominant

greenhouse gas (60% to 70%). The second largest source of greenhouse gas is CO2,

Greenhouse gases

Vernier LabQuest)

Follow procedures in handout and answer Analysis/ Synthesis Questions

Greenhouse gas.doc

Objectives:Students will:• Discuss the benefits of long-term data sets

and studies • Use a long-term data set to plot graphs and

examine patterns• Extrapolate what future climates may be like• Use empirical data to discuss how human

activity is affecting the planet

Materials:• Access to the Mauna Loa data set

or printouts of the spreadsheet• Laptop with Excel• Access to the Mauna Loa data set

or printouts of the spreadsheet • BBC News article for students, Ice

Cores Unlock Climate Secrets 

Follow procedures and answer discussion questions.