Climate Change Data Analysis
Overview
Students research climate data and play the role of a scientist trying to interpret the condition of Earth's atmosphere.
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Climate Change Data Analysis Activity
Introduction
There is worldwide concern over climate change. You have probably heard about the changing climate from multiple sources: scientists and politicians in the news, family members, teachers, and friends. Today, we are investigating the questions: What scientific evidence supports the argument that climate change is occurring? What evidence measures the effect?
As you may know, much of the concern for our climate is due to science which studies the Earth's atmosphere. You will analyze real scientific measurements of carbon dioxide (CO2), the most important greenhouse gases (GHGs) which influence climate. By investigating the recent trends in CO2, you will be playing the role of a scientist trying to interpret the condition of Earth's atmosphere. You will then look at other measurements of climate change evidence to determine whether or not humans should be concerned over the climate.
Procedure
You will look at data from: https://www.climate.gov/maps-data
Scroll down to find the “Global Climate Dashboard.”
Part 1:
1) Select “Sun’s energy.”
2) Describe the trend of solar energy from 1960 to present:
(How to describe a trend: The Sun’s energy increases/decreases over this period.)
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3) Quote from the “Learn More” link:
“Evidence suggests that the period of global cooling, known as the "Little Ice Age" (circa 1600-1850), may have been caused in part by a decrease in the Sun's energy output. During one 30-year stretch in the 1600s - the coldest period of the Little Ice Age when winter temperatures in Europe were from 1 to 1.5°C (1.8-2.7°F) colder than average. In contrast, scientists believe that the Sun's energy output increased slightly between 1900 and 2000.”
4) Is the data from 1960 to present enough to understand the impact of the Sun’s energy on our current Climate Change problem? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5) Stretch the “Amber Bar” below the graph to expand the years of data back to 1880.
6) Describe the trend of solar energy from 1880 to present.
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7) How would you predict solar energy to change over the next 100 years based on the data from the last 100 years?
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Why? _________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Part 2:
1) Select “Temperature.”
2) Stretch the “Amber Bar” below the graph to expand the years of data back to 1880.
3) Describe the trend of average global temperature from 1880 to present:
(How to describe a trend: The average global temperature increases/decreases over this period.)
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4) Quote from the “Learn More” link:
“The concept of an average temperature for the entire globe may seem odd. After all, at this very moment, the highest and lowest temperatures on Earth are likely more than 100°F (55°C) apart. Temperatures vary from night to day and between seasonal extremes in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This means that some parts of Earth are quite cold while other parts are downright hot. To speak of the "average" temperature then may seem like nonsense. However, the concept of a global average temperature is convenient for detecting and tracking changes in Earth's condition over time.
Though warming has not been uniform across the planet, the upward trend in the globally averaged temperature shows that more areas are warming than cooling. Since 1976, every year including 2014 has had an average global temperature warmer than the long-term average. Over this 37-year period, temperature warmed at an average of 0.50 °F (0.28 °C) per decade over land and 0.20 °F (0.11 °C) per decade over the ocean.”
5) How does global average temperature give us a more useful measurement than local temperature? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6) Highlight the portion of the above quote that supports your answer to question number 4.
7) How would you predict average global temperature to change over the next 100 years based on the data from the last 100 years?
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Why? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Part 3:
1) Select “Sea Level.”
2) Stretch the “Amber Bar” below the graph to expand the years of data back to 1880.
3) Describe the trend of sea level from 1880 to present:
(How to describe a trend: The average sea level increases/decreases over this period.)
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4) Quote from the “Learn More” link:
Sea level has been rising over the past century, and the rate has increased in recent decades. In 2014, global sea level was 2.6 inches (67 mm) above the 1993 average—the highest annual average in the satellite record (1993-present). Sea level continues to rise at a rate of about one-eighth of an inch (3.2 mm) per year, due to a combination of melting glaciers and ice sheets, and thermal expansion of seawater as it warms.”
4) Define thermal expansion. (Use an internet search to do so. Paraphrase into your own words.) _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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5) What places on Earth would be most affected by rising sea levels?
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Why? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Part 4:
1) Choose either “snow” or “glaciers” on the climate data dashboard.
2) Describe the trend of the data set you chose:
(How to describe a trend: The _______________ increases/decreases over this period.)
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3) How is this trend connected to the trends you observed in average global temperature, CO2, and sea levels?
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Conclusion:
1) Now that you have examined global climate data from the past 100 years, do you think that people should make plans for decreasing greenhouse gas emissions?
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2) Provide three ways that individuals can decrease their emissions.
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3) Suggest three ways that governments can act to decrease emissions on a larger scale.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Assessment: Crit. C: I can interpret data & describe results using scientific reasoning.
| 7/8: accurately/correct scientific reasoning | 5/6: accurately / using scientific reasoning | 3/4 : accurately / describe results | 1/2 : accurately interpret, but do not describe results. |