A classroom/laboratory activity to understand the carbon cycle, and to explore how human activities may affect the natural carbon cycle.
Students will run a simulation to explore how an increase in fossil fuel use will affect the natural carbon cycle, and will discuss the possible impacts on flora and fauna.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
Which components in the carbon cycle act as carbon sinks?
What are the possible impacts of deforestation on the natural carbon cycle? How might these changes affect the Earth’s climate?
A reading that uses the Beer-Lambert Law to highlight the link between greenhouse gases and global warming. This reading by Tom Kuntzleman, Chemical Education Xchange (ChemEd X), uses the Beer-Lambert Law to explain the increasing global warming potential of Earth’s atmosphere due to the higher concentrations of greenhouse gases in recent times.
Students will learn about the composition of the atmosphere and the greenhouse effect. They will also be introduced to the Beer-Lambert Law which is used to study the transmittance of sunlight through the atmosphere. They will further learn how this law can be used to evaluate the absorbance values of individual gases in the atmosphere, particularly greenhouse gases.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
What is the Beer-Lambert Law? How is it expressed in an equation?
Discuss the composition of the atmosphere.
How do increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases affect the absorbance of sunlight?
About the tool
Tool Name
Chemical Connections to Climate Change
Discipline
Chemistry
Topic(s) in Discipline
Beer-Lambert Law, Molar Absorptivity, Solar Absorption, Greenhouse Gases
Two E-learning courses (MOOCs) developed by Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune on Climate Change: Science, Impacts, and Policy and Teaching Climate Change. These courses were developed through the National Resource Centre (NRC) on Climate Change at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune as part of the Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India.
The courses include lectures on the current understanding of climate science and climate change, societal impacts of climate change, climate change policies and governance, and impacts of climate change. Additionally, the course includes lectures on how teachers of all disciplines can incorporate climate change in their everyday teaching.
The online course video playlist includes:
Introduction to Climate Science (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Climate Archives, Climate Data, and Climate Models (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Climate Change: Past Records: Climate Change on Tectonic Timescales, Orbital Timescales, Glacial/Deglacial Timescales, Millennial Timescales, Historical Timescales (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Modern Climate Change: Global Warming since the Industrial Revolution (Raghu Murtugudde)
Future Projections of Climate Change (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Mitigation and Adaptation (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland and Malti Goel, Climate Change Research Institute)
Climate Change and Society: Culture, Politics, Social Dynamics (D. Parthasarathy, IIT Bombay)
Climate Change Policy and Governance: Global Negotiations and Domestic Policy Making (Navroz Dubash, Centre for Policy Research)
Climate Change: Impacts in India (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Climate Change and Impacts on
The Indian Monsoon (Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland)
Water Resources (Pradeep Mujumdar, IISc Bengaluru)
Biodiversity and Ecology (Deepak Barua, IISER Pune)
The Himalayan Glaciers (Argha Banerjee, IISER Pune)
Teaching Resources and Pedagogical Tools (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Chemistry Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Biology Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Physics Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Math and Statistics Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Economics Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Environmental Sciences Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Geography Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Social Sciences Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
Teaching Climate Change in the Humanities Classroom (Rahul Chopra, TROP ICSU and IISER Pune)
About the Tool
Tool Name
Climate Change: A Guide For Teachers Of All Disciplines
Discipline
Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Humanities
Topic(s) in Discipline
Climate Change Overview
Climate Topic
Introduction to Climate Change; Climate Literacy
Type of tool
E-learning Course
Grade Level
High School, Undergraduate
Location
Global
Language
English
Translation
Developed by
Rahul Chopra (TROP ICSU and IISER Pune) for the National Resource Centre (NRC) on Climate Change at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune as part of the Annual Refresher Programme in Teaching (ARPIT), Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Human Resources Development, Government of India
Hosted at
IISER Pune Science Media Center YouTube Channel
Link
Course 1: Climate Change: Science, Impacts, and Policy:- Link Course 2: Climate Change: A Guide For Teachers Of All Disciplines:- Link
A teaching module of resources and activities that accompanies ‘The Teacher-Friendly Guide™ to Climate Change’
edited by Ingrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross,the Paleontological Research Institution. This teaching module includes videos and classroom/laboratory activities on the following topics
Climate Science
Energy and Atmosphere
Infrared energy
Infrared absorption by carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide and temperature
Box Model: steady state vs. non-steady state behavior
Heat capacity
Thermal expansion of water
Carbon Cycle
Diurnal variations in carbon dioxide
How many molecules make a trace gas?
NOAA Mauna Loa data and rate of CO2 increase
Respiration
Hydrologic Cycle
Rainfall and river response
Climate Change Mitigation
Renewable Energy
Solar energy
Near-surface geothermal energy
Wind energy
Carbon Sequestration
Afforestation and Reforestation: tree biomass & carbon dioxide storage
Communication and Advocacy
Citizen science
About the Tool
Tool Name
Teach Climate Science The Teacher Friendly Guide To Climate Change
Discipline
Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Humanities
Topic(s) in Discipline
Climate Change Overview
Climate Topic
Introduction to Climate Change; Climate Literacy
Type of tool
Teaching Module
Grade Level
High School, Undergraduate
Location
Global
Language
English
Translation
Developed by
Ingrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross
A classroom/laboratory activity to learn about the isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen, analyze the isotopic composition of ice, and understand how isotopic compositions can be used to recreate past temperatures and climate.
Students will plot graphs to analyze data from the Vostok ice core in Antarctica, learn about the ice age and the gas age, calculate past temperatures using hydrogen isotope data, and discuss the possible impacts of changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) concentrations on climate.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
How can you use hydrogen isotope data in an ice core to determine temperature?
How can the isotopic composition of air bubbles in ice cores be used to recreate past climate?
About the Tool
Tool Name
Lab: Vostok Ice Core
Discipline
Chemistry, Earth Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline
Isotopes, Isotopic Ratios, Isotopic Composition in paleoclimate reconstructions, Atomic Number, Atomic Mass
Climate Topic
Climate and the Cryosphere, Climate Variability Record
Type of Tool
Laboratory Activity
Grade Level
Undergraduate
Location
Antarctica
Vostok Station
Language
English
Translation
Developed by
Stephanie Pfirman, Barnard College
Hosted at
Columbia University: The Climate System course taught by Peter Schlosser, Stephanie Pfirman, Mingfang Ting, Jason Smerdon
A set of hands-on laboratory activities that uses the pH scale to understand the changes in ocean chemistry due to increased carbon dioxide emissions. This module shows that increased ocean acidification has adverse effects on marine organisms.
A reading titled ‘The Teacher Friendly Guide to Climate Change’ edited by Ingrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross,the Paleontological Research Institution. This book includes the following chapters
Why Teach About Climate Change? by Don Duggan-Haas
Why Teaching About Climate Change Matters
Science Learning, Its Application, and Politics
We All Have Biases
Systems and Scales
Love and Beauty Will Persist
Resources
What Should Everyone Understand About Climate Change and Energy? by Don Duggan-Haas
What Do You Think?
Collecting Expert Opinions
Consensus Documents
Striving for a Coherent Conceptual Framework
Resources
What is Climate? by Ingrid H. H. Zabel and Others
Climate is a System
Measuring Climate
Greenhouse Gases and Global Temperature
Natural Causes of Climate Change
Summary
Resources
Climate Change Through Earth History by Robert M. Ross and Others
Why Past Climate Change Matters
Observing Climate Through Time in the Rock Record
History of the Earth’s Climate
Climate Analogs and Models
Resources
Evidence For and Causes of Recent Climate Change by Ingrid H. H. Zabel and Others
Changing Temperatures and Carbon Dioxide
Shrinking Ice Sheets and Glaciers
Changing Sea Ice Extent
Thawing Permafrost
Rising Sea Level
Causes of Recent Climate Change
What are the Likely Effects of Climate Change Going to Be?
Resources
6. US Regional Climates, Current and Future by Ingrid H. H. Zabel and Benjamin Brown-Steiner
Describing Climates
Northeast
Southeast
Midwest
South Central
Northwest Central
Southwest
West
Hawaii
Alaska
Resources
Climate Change Mitigation by Ingrid H. H. Zabel
What is Mitigation?
Mitigation Strategies
Summary
Resources
Geoengineering by Ingrid H. H. Zabel
Counteracting Climate Change
Examples of Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Techniques
Examples of Solar Radiation Management (SRM) Techniques
Geoengineering Choices
Resources
Climate Change Adaptation by Ingrid H. H. Zabel
How Much Does Adaptation Cost?
Types of Adaptation Strategies
Adatation to Different Climate Hazards
Equity and Social Justice Considerations
Resources
Obstacles to Addressing Climate Change by Don Duggan-Haas
Controversial Issues and Complex Systems
Creating Meaningful Dialog
Factors That Influence How We think
How Do People Change Their Minds?
How Can We Envision New Systems?
Resources
Perspective by Don Duggan-Haas
Apocalyptic Tales of Climate Change
Use of Language and Perspective in Teaching Climate Change
Hope and Optimism
Apocalyptic Prophesies Versus Predictions of Climate Change
Reality Check: A Personal Perspective
Science Teaching Toward a Sustainable World
Resources
About the Tool
Tool Name
The Teacher Friendly Guide To Climate Change
Discipline
Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography, Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, Economics, Social Sciences, Humanities
Topic(s) in Discipline
Climate Change Overview
Climate Topic
Introduction to Climate Change; Climate Literacy
Type of tool
Reading
Grade Level
High School, Undergraduate
Location
Global
Language
English
Translation
Developed by
Ingrid H. H. Zabel, Don Duggan-Haas, & Robert M. Ross
A laboratory activity to demonstrate the effect of black carbon on surface temperature of the Earth. This activity by Holzer et al. for the NESTA/Windows to the Universe team demonstrates the impact of black carbon on solar radiation absorption, particularly in the poles.
Students will be introduced to the albedo effect of black carbon. From the experiment, they will also learn how to collect and translate their findings using a simple model.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
What is the albedo effect of black carbon and how does it affect the surface temperature of Earth?
Discuss how cutting down of black carbon emissions can reduce global surface temperatures.
About the tool
Tool Name
Changing Planet: Black Carbon- A Dusty Situation
Discipline
Chemistry
Topic(s) in Discipline
Carbon Chemistry, Allotropy, Allotropes of carbon, Black Carbon, Greenhouse Gas
Climate Topic
Climate and the Atmosphere, Greenhouse Effect
Type of tool
Classroom/Laboratory Activity
Grade Level
High School
Location
Global
Language
English
Translation
Developed by
Missy Holzer, Jennifer Bergman, and Roberta Johnson
A video micro-lecture that explains carbonate buffering in the ocean. It includes discussions on the changes in the chemical composition of the ocean caused by a higher concentration of dissolved CO2, ocean acidification and the resulting effect on ocean biota.
A micro-lecture that describes the vibrational modes of polyatomic molecules, how these modes determine whether the molecules are IR inactive or IR active and explains why most IR active polyatomic gas molecules are greenhouse gases.
A video micro-lecture that describes the phase diagrams of water on Earth, Mars, and Venus. It also describes the water vapor feedback mechanism in the atmospheres of these planets that influences the greenhouse effect.
A reading that describes the impacts of climate change on the water cycle of Earth. This reading titled, ‘The Water Cycle and Climate Change’ by UCAR (University Corporation for Atmospheric Research) Center for Science Education details the effects of climate change on the natural water cycle on Earth.
Students will learn how various processes of the water cycle, such as evaporation, precipitation, and cloud formation, are potentially affected by climate change. They will further understand how these changes in turn could exacerbate the impacts of global warming.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
Describe the water cycle.
List some of the ways how climate change can affect the weather.
Discuss the water cycle and how it affects Earth’s climate.
An interactive quiz about the Water Cycle. This quiz by NASA’s Global Climate Change website allows students to test their knowledge about the natural water cycle and its role in Earth’s climate.
Students will be quizzed on various aspects of the water cycle, including evaporation and precipitation. They will understand the connections between the various components of the water cycle and be introduced to some of the facts and figures associated with these components.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
Discuss the ‘Water Cycle’ and its components in the classroom.
Discuss how climate change can potentially affect the water cycle.
A video micro-lecture by Jeff Dozier, University of California, Santa Barbara, that explains how climate change can affect the water cycle on Earth.
Students will learn that rising temperatures can affect and change precipitation patterns. They will further understand how such changes can potentially affect communities through examples from the United States.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
Discuss the water cycle and its components in the classroom.
Discuss how climate change induced shifts in precipitation affect communities living in those areas.
About the tool
Tool Name
How Will Climate Change Affect It? – The Water Cycle
A reading that introduces hydrocarbons, fossil fuels, and the products of combustionof different hydrocarbons such as carbon dioxide- a greenhouse gas.
A reading that describes natural carbon sources and sinks. This reading by Noelle Eckley Selin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, describes how anthropogenic activities alter the concentration of carbon in various sources and sinks, thus, contributing to global warming.
Students will learn about the various types of carbon sinks and sources. They will further understand the importance of the removal of this excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere using technologies for carbon capture and storage, and carbon sequestration.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
What are the natural sources and sinks of carbon on Earth?
Discuss the importance of carbon sequestration for climate mitigation.
Discuss carbon sequestration through carbon capture and storage technologies.
About the tool
Tool Name
Carbon Sequestration
Discipline
Chemistry, Environmental Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline
Carbon Sequestration, Carbon Capture and Storage, Carbon Sources and Sinks
Climate Topic
Climate and the Atmosphere; Climate Mitigation and Adaptation; Climate and the Biosphere; Climate and the Lithosphere
A reading that describes how the cement industry contributes to global warming. This reading by Carbon Brief discusses the production of traditional cement and how this contributes to 8% of carbon dioxide emissions globally. It further highlights the projected increase in demand for concrete, particularly in developing countries, and how this could potentially raise emissions further.
Students will learn about global large-scale cement production and the resulting carbon emissions. They will also learn about alternate and ‘novel’ methods of production that are being researched and the complexities of switching to these modes of production. They will further understand the practical, political and economic complexities with respect to cutting emissions as per global standards.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
What is cement and how is it produced?
List some of the reasons ‘emissions per tonne of output’ has reduced in cement production? In contrast, why are sector emissions still on the rise?
Discuss the current ‘roadmap’ of cement production with respect to the 2C scenario.
About the tool
Tool Name
‘Q&A: Why cement emissions matter for climate change’
Discipline
Chemistry, Environmental Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline
Environmental Chemistry, Cement, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Pollution
Climate Topic
Climate and the Atmosphere; Climate and the Anthroposphere
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