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.

In this activity, students will examine actual data for projected sea-level rise, and will use a visualization to view the possible impacts of sea level rise and storm surges on different locations in the continental U.S.

Use this tool to help students find answers to:

  1. Name the largest glaciers (in terms of volume) in the world.
  2. What would be the impact of the melting of large glaciers on coastal locations across the world?

About the Tool

Tool Name Future of the Cryosphere (Sea Level Rise)
Discipline Geography, Earth Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Sea-level Rise; Hazards and Disasters; Melting of Polar Ice due to Climate Change
Climate Topic Disasters and Hazards, Climate and the Cryosphere
Type of Tool Classroom/Laboratory Activity
Grade Level High school, Undergraduate
Location Global
Language English
Translation
Developed by EarthLabs, SERC at Carleton College
Hosted at SERC at Carleton College
Link https://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/cryosphere/6b.html
Access Online
Computer Skills Basic
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