Category: Activities
CC09. What Are Governments Doing About Climate Change?
Chapter 9 { Climate Change Contents } Governments are often looked to for the regulation of the “commons,” finite resources that are owned by no one but consumed by all. Global warming affects all countries to varying degrees. However, the issues are complex and controversial. What constitutes the “commons” and what actions ought governments take […]
CC8. What Are the Consequences of Global Warming?
Chapter 8 { Climate Change Contents } Two of the controversial scientific questions from the previous chapter merit a chapter unto themselves—the ones that concern the effects of global warming: I. Has the Warming Caused Any Noticeable Effects So Far? A variety of environmental changes have been observed by scientists around the globe that provide strong […]
CC7.1. Keeping the Facts Straight
{ Climate Change Contents } { All GSS Books } You may also download this Worksheet as: PDF. Name _____________________________________________________ Class Period ______________ Evidence that is causing scientists and others concern about the state of our global environment is: The average global temperature is going up. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are increasing. Many human activities […]
CC7. What Is the Controversy About?
Chapter 7 { Climate Change Contents } Controversy about climate change has changed dramatically in the past decades. In Chapter 4 we took a careful look at questions about global warming, examining Dr. James Hansen’s statement that the “globe is heating up.” We saw in chapter 4, through International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Reports and the […]
CC6.2. What Are the Human-Caused Sources of Carbon Dioxide?
Investigation { Climate Change Contents } If the average global temperature is rising and a large part of the cause is increasing CO2, we need to be aware of any ways that humans are adding to global CO2 levels. It appears true that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is much higher today than […]
CC6.1. The Findings From Mauna Loa
Investigation { Climate Change Contents } I. Carbon Dioxide in the Northern Hemisphere This investigation is “selected” by the Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness Network (CLEAN) As a student assistant, your job is to analyze data from the strip chart recorder and to find the average concentration of carbon dioxide for each month. It takes […]
CC6. How Is The Atmosphere Changing?
Chapter 6 { Climate Change Contents } Let’s examine the actual data collected at the Mauna Loa Observatory (in Hawaii) and figure out what it means. The carbon dioxide data on Mauna Loa constitute the longest record of direct measurements of CO2 in the atmosphere. They were started by C. David Keeling of the Scripps Institution […]
CC5.2. Sampling Carbon Dioxide
{ Climate Change Contents } { All GSS Books } Discuss question 5.4 with your teammates and write down your prediction. Then determine whether or not you were right by first taking gas samples and then testing the samples to determine which has a greater concentration of carbon dioxide. Question 5.4. Which source do you […]
CC5.1. An Interview with Pieter Tans
{ Climate Change Contents } { All GSS Books } This page features an interview with Pieter Tans, senior scientist at the Earth System Research Laboratory (ESRL) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Boulder, Colorado. Watch the Greeting from Pieter Tans and listen to any or all of the questions by clicking […]
CC5. How is Carbon Dioxide Measured?
Chapter 5 { Climate Change Contents } For at least the past million years, hot lava has flowed from cracks in the Pacific Ocean bottom and slowly built the Hawaiian islands. The largest is the island of Hawaii, which is primarily composed of two volcanoes: Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. If it is measured from […]