Present Climate Change – Inquiry Labs Lesson

Global Precipitation Measurement Mission

Developed by the GPM

Education Team

NASA Goddard Space

Flight Center

Guiding QuestionsGuiding Questions

• Climate Change: What is climate change and what is causing it?

• Carbon Dioxide: What is the pattern in the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, and what could be causing it?

• Sea Level Rise Lab: Which type of melting ice - land ice or sea ice - will have a greater effect on sea level rise?

• Sea Ice and Ocean Temperature Lab: What effect will the melting of sea ice have on ocean temperature?

• Carbon Dioxide and Air Temperature: What effect does adding carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases have on air temperature?

EngageEngage

• What have you heard about climate change?

Source: washingtonpost.com

Engage, cont.Engage, cont.

• What do you notice about the graph below? What could be causing the change shown?

Source: http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/

Climate Change Inquiry LabsClimate Change Inquiry Labs

• You will be divided into groups to each investigate a different aspect of climate change.– Melting Ice and Sea Level Rise– Carbon Dioxide and Air Temperature– Sea Ice and Ocean Temperature

• As the experiments run, you will have the chance to research additional information about your topic.

• Afterward, you will create a poster explaining what is happening in your experiment, and the broader picture of what is happening with climate change.

Climate Change Inquiry Labs - ExpectationsClimate Change Inquiry Labs - Expectations

Expectations:• Make a hypothesis before beginning.• Stay with your group and do your assigned task.• If your thermometer has both Fahrenheit and

Celsius, make sure you are recording Celsius.• Use the equipment appropriately and safely - be

especially careful of the heat lamps and shades, as they can get HOT.

• Be prepared to describe your experiment and results to the class at the end, using a poster you will create with your group.

PostersPosters

Create a poster explaining your experiment and the background information relating to it. Refer to the rubric to make sure you include everything you should.

Video: “A Warming World”Video: “A Warming World”

Questions to think about while you watch:1. What has been special about the last decade on Earth? 2. How much does the sun’s cycle influence overall temperature on Earth?3. How does reflection from surfaces affect the temperature on Earth? 4. Why is the effect of water vapor on climate change so difficult to predict?5. What is the second most common greenhouse gas, and why is it

significant in terms of the effect of humans on climate change?

Video: “Melting Ice, Rising Seas”Video: “Melting Ice, Rising Seas”

Questions to think about while you watch:1.What two things happen to the ocean as the planet heats up?2.How much of Earth’s freshwater is frozen in the world’s ice fields? If it all melted (which is not expected), how much would sea level rise?3.What are some effects that might occur if the one-meter sea level rise predicted by many scientists happens?

Extension Activities

Storm SurgesStorm Surges

One of the risks with sea level rise is the increased severity of storm surges. Click on the diagram above to go to more information (with animations) about the problem.

Image source: Ihttp://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/ivan/photos/

NASA Real World: JASON-2NASA Real World: JASON-2

Learn how the satellite, Jason 2, is able to use radar waves to determine the height of sea levels and evaluate the effects of global warming.

Climate Change and the Global OceanClimate Change and the Global Ocean

We know climate change can affect us, but does climate change alter something as vast, deep and mysterious as our oceans? For years, scientists have studied the world's oceans by sending out ships and divers, deploying data-gathering buoys, and by taking aerial measurements from planes. But one of the better ways to understand oceans is to gain an even broader perspective - the view from space.

Stay Connected!Stay Connected!

• Follow us on Twitter: @NASA_Rain

• “Like” us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NASA.Rain

• Precipitation Education Website: pmm.nasa.gov/education