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Intro to Climate Change

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- Show answers to discussion questions
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- Climate is the average weather over many years.
- The Earth's average temperature has increased rapidly over the past century.
- Scientists collect data to understand why the temperature is changing and what could be done about it.
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Discussion Questions
- Before VideoWhat is the difference between weather and climate?ANSWER
Weather refers to short-term changes in the atmosphere. Climate describes what the weather is like over a long period of time in a specific area.
Factors that affect weather are air temperature, air pressure, humidity of the air, amount and kind of cloud cover, amount and kind of precipitation, and speed and direction of the wind. Factors that affect climate are latitude, ocean currents, wind and air masses, elevation, and closeness to water.
Accept a range of ideas from students. This question is just to see what students might think.
Accept a range of ideas from students. This question is just to see what students might think.
Accept a range of ideas from students. This question is just to see what students might think.
Accept a range of ideas from students. This question is just to see what students might think.
- After VideoHow do we know that climate has changed over time?ANSWER
Records of temperatures, examining tree rings, and studying ice cores from glaciers are some ways scientists have used to compare today’s climate with climates of the past.
Changes in the amount of energy from the Sun reaching Earth, an increase in volcanic eruptions, changes in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Process that occurs when gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap the sun’s heat being reflected back from the surface.
Earth would be too cold for life. Without the greenhouse effect, Earth’s temperature would be –18℃.
One of the greenhouse gases is carbon dioxide. CO2 has increased in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas), which begins with the industrial revolution.
There has been an increase in glacier melt, which in turn causes sea levels to rise. There has been an increase in forest fires, stronger hurricanes, and more severe droughts.
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Vocabulary
- Weather DEFINE
Day-to-day variation of the atmosphere’s condition locally.
- Climate DEFINE
Long-term, average weather over a large area.
- Greenhouse gases DEFINE
Gases in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor that absorb infrared radiation.
- Greenhouse effect DEFINE
Process of gases in the atmosphere like carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor that absorb infrared light and redirect it back toward Earth, which keeps Earth warm.
- Fossil fuels DEFINE
Coal, oil, and natural gas formed from the fossilized, buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago.
- Consequence DEFINE
A result or effect of an action or condition.
- Glacier DEFINE
A slowly moving mass of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow on mountains or near the poles.
- Renewable resources DEFINE
Are replenished naturally and over relatively short periods of time. The five major renewable energy resources are solar, wind, water (hydro), biomass, and geothermal.
- Biofuel DEFINE
Fuels made from plants or algae that are a form of renewable energy.
- Weather DEFINE
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Reading Material
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DIY Activity Guide
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Lesson Plan
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Teacher Guide