As an Undergraduate Geography and Environmental Sciences teacher, you can use this set of computer-based tools to enable students to develop an understanding of deserts and desertification. Climate change and desertification are inextricably linked. Desertification contributes to climate change by removing fertile soil and plants. Soils store significant amounts of carbon, some of which may be released into the atmosphere due to desertification, having a significant impact on the global climate system
Category: Geography
E-Learning Course: Climate Change- A Guide For Teachers Of All Disciplines
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 |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Teaching Module: Teach Climate Science with the Teacher Friendly Guide To Climate Change™
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
- Energy and Atmosphere
- Climate Change Mitigation
- Renewable Energy
- Solar energy
- Near-surface geothermal energy
- Wind energy
- Carbon Sequestration
- Afforestation and Reforestation: tree biomass & carbon dioxide storage
- Renewable Energy
- 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 |
| Hosted at | Paleontological Research Institution |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Reading: Climate Change- The Teacher Friendly Guide™
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 |
| Hosted at | Paleontological Research Institution |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Reading: What is the Atmosphere?
A short reading by the Aspen Global Change Institute that summarizes what the atmosphere is. This resource can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate change and the role of the atmosphere.
This reading includes overview discussions on the following topics:
- What is the atmosphere?
- What makes up the atmosphere?
- How do humans affect the atmosphere?
The reading also includes a short journal activity.
Students will understand what the atmosphere is. They will also understand about climate change and the role of the atmosphere.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- What is the atmosphere?
- Discuss climate change and the role of the atmosphere.
About the Tool
| Tool Name | The Atmosphere |
| Discipline | Earth Sciences, Geography |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Climate Change Overview |
| Climate Topic | Climate Literacy; Introduction to Climate Change |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | Middle School; High School |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Aspen Global Change Institute |
| Hosted at | Aspen Global Change Institute website |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Reading: What is the Cryosphere?
A short reading by the Aspen Global Change Institute that summarizes what the cryosphere is. This resource can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate change and the role of the cryosphere.
This reading includes overview discussions on the following topics:
- What is the cryosphere?
- How does the cryosphere change?
- Human interactions with the cryosphere
The reading also includes a short journal activity.
Students will understand what the cryosphere is. They will also understand about climate change and the role of the cryosphere.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- What is the cryosphere?
- Discuss climate change and the role of the cryosphere.
About the Tool
| Tool Name | The Cryosphere |
| Discipline | Earth Sciences, Geography |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Climate Change Overview |
| Climate Topic | Climate Literacy; Introduction to Climate Change |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | Middle School; High School |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Aspen Global Change Institute |
| Hosted at | Aspen Global Change Institute website |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Reading: What is the Hydrosphere?
A short reading by the Aspen Global Change Institute that summarizes what the hydrosphere is. This resource can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate change and the role of the hydrosphere.
This reading includes overview discussions on the following topics:
- What is the hydrosphere?
- The variable hydrosphere
- How is the hydrosphere changing?
The reading also includes a short journal activity.
Students will understand what the hydrosphere is. They will also understand about climate change and the role of the hydrosphere.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- What is the hydrosphere?
- Discuss climate change and the role of the hydrosphere.
About the Tool
| Tool Name | The Hydrosphere |
| Discipline | Earth Sciences, Geography |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Climate Change Overview |
| Climate Topic | Climate Literacy; Introduction to Climate Change |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | Middle School; High School |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Aspen Global Change Institute |
| Hosted at | Aspen Global Change Institute website |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Reading: What is the Lithosphere?
A short reading by the Aspen Global Change Institute that summarizes what the lithosphere or geosphere is. This resource can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate change and the role of the geosphere.
This reading includes overview discussions on the following topics:
- What is the Geosphere?
- How does the geosphere interact in the earth system?
- How do humans interact with the geosphere?
The reading also includes a short journal activity.
Students will understand what the geosphere is. They will also understand about climate change and the role of the lithosphere or geosphere.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- What is the lithosphere or geosphere?
- Discuss climate change and the role of the lithosphere.
About the Tool
| Tool Name | The Geosphere |
| Discipline | Earth Sciences, Geography |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Climate Change Overview |
| Climate Topic | Climate Literacy; Introduction to Climate Change |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | Middle School; High School |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Aspen Global Change Institute |
| Hosted at | Aspen Global Change Institute website |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Reading: Climate Disasters: An Overview
A reading by the Third Pole that discusses the link between climate change and natural disasters. This overview reading can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate change and disasters and hazards. The reading focuses on discussions on climate change related disasters in South Asia. It covers topics such as cyclones, floods, landslides, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), forest fires, droughts in South Asia. It further discusses the difference between ‘slow’ and ‘fast’ natural disasters.
Students will understand how natural disasters and climate change are related. They will further learn about how climate change is causing natural disasters such as cyclones, floods, landslides, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF), forest fires, droughts in South Asia.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- Discuss the link between climate change and natural disasters.
- Discuss the trend of climate-related disasters from 1900 to 2009.
About the Tool
| Tool Name | Climate Disasters |
| Discipline | Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Geography |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Climate Change Overview, Cyclones, Floods, Landslides, Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF), Forest Fires, Droughts |
| Climate Topic | Disasters and Hazards; Climate Literacy |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | High School, Undergraduate |
| Location | Global; Asia |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | The Third Pole |
| Hosted at | The Third Pole |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
E-learning Course: Impact of Climate Change on Cities
An e-learning course to understand how cities are impacted by and influence climate change.
Read More “E-learning Course: Impact of Climate Change on Cities”
Video: Permafrost and Climate Change
A video that introduces permafrost and its distribution on Earth. The video also describes the changing nature of permafrost across several regions due to higher surface temperatures and the possible impact of permafrost thawing on Earth’s climate.
A Collection of E-Learning Courses on Climate Change
A collection of e-learning courses to learn the basics of climate change science, relationship between climate and oceans, and climate change action.
Read More “A Collection of E-Learning Courses on Climate Change”
E-Learning Courses on Climate Change
Video/Microlecture: Climate Change and the Lithosphere
A video microlecture by Raghu Murtugudde, University of Maryland, titled “Plate Movements Mountains and Climate Change”. This video lecture is part 4 of this 46-part video series titled ‘Oceanography- Chapter 16: Oceans and Climate’ available at the Murtugudde Climate Academy channel on YouTube. This video lecture, which discusses the link between tectonic plate movements and climate change, can be used as an introduction to teach about climate change and the lithosphere. It discusses how past and present plate movements contribute to the current changing climate.
Students will learn about the lithosphere and the link between tectonic plate movement and climate change. They will also learn about the tectonic plate movements on a geological timescale and their role in creating the current global climate system.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- Discuss climate change and the role of the lithosphere
- How do tectonic plate movements contribute to climate change?
- Create a timeline for plate movements and climate change.
About the Tool
| Tool Name | Plate Movements Mountains and Climate Change |
| Discipline | Earth Sciences, Geography |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Climate Change Overview, Tectonics, Tectonic Plates |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Lithosphere |
| Type of tool | Video/Microlecture (7 min 14 secs) |
| Grade Level | High School, Undergraduate |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Raghu Murtugudde |
| Hosted at | YouTube |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Game: NASA Climate Kids
NASA Climate Kids contains a collection of online games such as Coral Bleaching, Meet the Greenhouse Gases, Play OFFSET!, Play Power Up!, Slyder: The Art of Weather, Missions to Planet Earth, Wild Weather Adventure, and Whirlwind Disaster.
Reading: Hadley Circulation
A reading to learn about the Hadley Cell and a simple model for the Hadley Circulation, using the law of conservation of angular momentum.
Reading: Climate and the Hydrosphere
A short reading by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), Center for Science Education that summarizes the hydrosphere and its role in determining the climate of planet Earth. This overview reading can be used as an introduction to the topic by teachers interested in teaching about climate change and the role of the hydrosphere. It focuses on the water cycle and climate change.
This reading includes overview discussions on the following topics:
- Climate change affects evaporation and precipitation
- Changing climate means changing weather
- Clouds affect the climate and climate affects the clouds
- Worldwide, sea level is rising because of climate change
- Ocean water is warming and growing acidic
- Sea ice is shrinking, causing more warming
The reading also includes links to further information on
- Clouds, Precipitation, and Climate Change
- Climate and Ice
- Rising Sea Level
- Weather and the Water Cycle
Students will understand the hydrosphere and its components and its role in determining the climate of the planet. They will also understand about the water cycle and climate change impacts on the hydrosphere.
Use this tool to help your students find answers to:
- Discuss climate change and the role of the hydrosphere.
- How does climate change affects evaporation and precipitation
- What is the effect of clouds on Earth’s climate
About the Tool
| Tool Name | The Water Cycle and Climate Change |
| Discipline | Earth Sciences, Geography |
| Topic(s) in Discipline | Climate Change Overview |
| Climate Topic | Climate and the Hydrosphere; Climate Literacy |
| Type of tool | Reading |
| Grade Level | High School; Undergraduate |
| Location | Global |
| Language | English |
| Translation | |
| Developed by | Center for Science Education, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) |
| Hosted at | Center for Science Education, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) website |
| Link | Link |
| Access | Online |
| Computer Skills | Basic |
Reading: The climate in our hands – Ocean and Cryosphere
The Office for Climate Education (OCE) presents a Teacher’s Guidebook that aims to support teachers in carrying out various activities on climate change and the ocean and cryosphere in their classrooms, and targets students of ages 9 to 15.
Read More “Reading: The climate in our hands – Ocean and Cryosphere”
Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Climate Change, the Cryosphere, and Rising Sea Levels
A classroom/laboratory activity that introduces the relationship between climate and the cryosphere, explains how sea-level rise can be predicted (based on average global temperature change), and triggers a discussion on the potential impacts of sea-level rise.
Read More “Classroom/Laboratory Activity: Climate Change, the Cryosphere, and Rising Sea Levels”
Mobile App: Polar Explorer (Sea Level)
Polar Explorer is an education app to learn about changes in sea level through time with the help of real data.
