ERIC Number: EJ1000844
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Dec
Pages: 9
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0887-2376
EISSN: N/A
Investigating Future Climate Scenarios
Dempsey, Chris; Bodzin, Alec; Anastasio, David; Sahagian, Dork; Cirucci, Lori
Science Scope, v36 n4 p77-85 Dec 2012
One of the most alarming impacts of projected climate change is a significant rise in sea level. Sea level has varied by hundreds of meters over geologic time, yet these changes have generally been slow paced, allowing ecosystems to adjust to changing land surface and marine habitats. Since the Industrial Revolution, anthropogenic emissions have led to climate change that is causing sea level to rise rapidly in response to melting glacial ice and expansion of warming ocean water. During the 20th century, some of this sea-level rise was masked by the building of new dams that impounded water, which would otherwise have flowed downriver into the ocean. In the 21st century, there has been a reduction in new dam building, and sea level has already been observed to rise much more rapidly than just a few decades ago. Furthermore, some acceleration in sea-level rise is expected to continue throughout the century, leading to disruption of coastal communities, where a large portion of Earth's human population resides. This article describes an investigative "future worlds" learning activity the authors developed for eighth-grade students in which past and future climate scenarios are used to develop understandings regarding how the Earth and society may be affected by global change. (Contains 5 figures and an activity worksheet.)
Descriptors: Climate, Environmental Education, Geology, Science Instruction, Natural Resources, Learning Activities, Grade 8, Secondary School Science, Water Pollution, Water Quality, Oceanography, Middle Schools
National Science Teachers Association. 1840 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA 22201-3000. Tel: 800-722-6782; Fax: 703-243-3924; e-mail: membership@nsta.org; Web site: http://www.nsta.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Grade 8; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A