Global Warming and Climate Change

Introduction

The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is very likely human-induced and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented in the past 1,300 years. Earth-orbiting satellites and other technological advances have enabled scientists to see the big picture, collecting many different types of information about our planet and its climate on a global scale. This body of data, collected over many years, reveals the signals of a changing climate.

Throughout the Webquest you will explore some of this evidence from the world’s leading climate and atmospheric research center,  NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory | California Institute of Technology 

Task

Write a brief summary about the following pieces of evidence showing climate change, within the website provided. Think about and then answer the questions provided. Please make sure you are writing your answers in your own words. This means that your classmates should be able to read your answers and understand them.

Process

Part I: Evidence of Climate change http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

Directions: Write a brief summary of the following pieces of evidence showing climate change. Look at all of the NASA website links/graphs/videos associated with the piece of evidence. 

  • Sea level rise  
  • Global temperature rise 
  • Warming oceans
  • Shrinking ice sheets 
  • Extreme events 

Part II: Causes of Climate Change 

Directions: Use the links below to briefly answer the following questions.

http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/

 Describe the differences in heat trapping ability for the following greenhouse gases: methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. 

  • Which gas is the biggest driving force of climate change? 
  • How have humans changed earth's natural greenhouse? What activities have contributed to this change? 
  • What is solar irradiance and how could it be responsible for climate change? What evidence proves or disproves its' role? 

Part III: Impacts of Climate Change 

Directions: Use the link below to answer the following questions about the impact on our lives: 

https://www.ec.gc.ca/nature/default.asp?lang=En&n=A997D1CC-1

  • Which geographic location in the Canada is most vulnerable to climate change? 
  • How could polar bears be affected by climate change? 

Part IV: What can we do? Please go to, and read the following webpage:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/10-solutions-for-climate-change/

Directions: Explain the following solutions to climate change 

  • Forego fossil fuels 
  • Be efficient 
  • Eat smart, eat vegetarian? 

Evaluation

This Webquest assignment is divided into 4 parts. Each part is of equal value (25%). Please answer each question in your own words in order to receive full marks.

Conclusion

I hope that you enjoyed this Webquest journey into the exploration of climate change and global warming. Environmental stewardship (a value that Alberta Education lists as one of the goals students should acquire through the education system), is extremely important if we (and our offspring) are to live happy, healthy lives. This work and site will hopefully inspire you towards promtoing environmental awareness and stewardship in your community. Global warming and climate change are not based on miscellaneous, inaccurate laboratory artifacts. Global warming and climate change data has been amassed, analyzed and studied, by highly trained scientists over many decades, and they have published this data in peer reviewed scientific journals.

Credits

Teacher Page

Alberta Education promotes environmental stewardship in all science and chemistry courses. This Webquest falls within this mandate and utilizes Alberta Education authroized resource sites. Retrieved from Alberta Education’s authorized textbook for the Science 10 curriculum (Addison Wesley Science 10 Teacher’s Resource).

Target audience: Grade 10/11 Science 10 students (learning resource) in the Alberta Education Program of Studies; also very useful for high school Chemistry 20/30 teachers.

Global Warming and Climate Change    Science 10*

The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is very likely human-induced and proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented in the past 1,300 years. Earth-orbiting satellites and other technological advances have enabled scientists to see the big picture, collecting many different types of information about our planet and its climate on a global scale. This body of data, collected over many years, reveals the signals of a changing climate.

Throughout the Webquest you will explore some of this evidence from the world’s leading climate and atmospheric research center,  NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory | California Institute of Technology  ; Please make sure you are writing your answers in your own words. This means that your classmates should be able to read your answers and understand them.

Part I: Evidence of Climate change http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/

Directions: Write a brief summary of the following pieces of evidence showing climate change. Look at all of the NASA website links/graphs/videos associated with the piece of evidence. 

  • Sea level rise  
  • Global temperature rise 
  • Warming oceans
  • Shrinking ice sheets 
  • Extreme events 

Part II: Causes of Climate Change 

Directions: Use the links below to briefly answer the following questions.

http://climate.nasa.gov/causes/

  • Describe the differences in heat trapping ability for the following greenhouse gases: methane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. 
  • Which gas is the biggest driving force of climate change? 
  • How have humans changed earth's natural greenhouse? What activities have contributed to this change? 
  • What is solar irradiance and how could it be responsible for climate change? What evidence proves or disproves its' role? 

Part III: Impacts of Climate Change 

Directions: Use the link below to answer the following questions about the impact on our lives: 

https://www.ec.gc.ca/nature/default.asp?lang=En&n=A997D1CC-1

  • Which geographic location in the Canada is most vulnerable to climate change? 
  • How could polar bears be affected by climate change? 

Part IV: What can we do? Please go to, and read the following webpage:

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/10-solutions-for-climate-change/

Directions: Explain the following solutions to climate change 

  • Forego fossil fuels 
  • Be efficient 
  • Eat smart, eat vegetarian? 

* Note: The website referred to in this WebQuest is an authorized resource suggested by Alberta Education. NASA: Global Climate Change – Vital Signs of the Planet

URL - http://climate.nasa.gov/resources/education/pbs_modules/  Retrieved from Alberta Education’s authorized textbook for the Science 10 curriculum (Addison Wesley Science 10 Teacher’s Resource).

Target audience: Grade 10/11 Science 10 students (learning resource) in the Alberta Education Program of Studies; also very useful for high school Chemistry 20/30 teachers.