Climate Change Lesson 2 : Earth's Energy Balance

Climate Change Conceptual Framework

Developed by the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, Climate Change Resources provides a framework for climate topics and the resources to teach those topics. Retrieved June 28, 2018, from https://www.uwsp.edu/cnr-ap/ClimateChange/Pages/CC-Framework/default.aspx

Climate Discovery

This is an online climate course with optional credit from the National Center for Atmospheric Research on Climate (NCAR). The course offerings include: Introduction to Earth’s Climate, Earth System Science: A Climate Change Perspective, and Understanding Climate Change Today. Retrieved June 28, 2018, from http://eo.ucar.edu/educators/ClimateDiscovery/

CLIMGRAPH

These NOAA educational graphics on Global Climate Change and the Greenhouse Effect can be downloaded for inclusion in lessons. Retrieved February 24, 2012, from http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gsd/outreach/education/climgraph/

Communicating and Learning about Global Climate Change

This guide is designed to give a brief overview of Project 2061’s recommendations for the relevant ideas and skills that all students should learn. It focuses on an understanding of climate change, scientific inquiry, and trade-offs and constraints implicit in making choices about technology. The guide maps out K-12 learning. Retrieved February 22, 2012 from http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/climate_change/mtg_200702/climate_change_guide_2061.pdf

Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE)

This searchable website contains thousands of educational resources for teaching about climate change. The National Science Foundation provided funding for the development of DLESE which is now operated by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) Computational and Information Systems Laboratory and the NCAR Library on behalf of the education community. Retrieved December 20, 2011, from http://www.dlese.org/library/

Energy Budget Poster

NASA compiled this poster, which can be downloaded from: http://science-edu.larc.nasa.gov/energy_budget/

EPA Climate Change

The U.S. EPA’s climate website is an excellent starting point for learning about climate change. EPA’s website provides information on climate change for communities, individuals, businesses, states, localities and governments. It has links to documents and data as well as a Student’s Guide to Climate Change. Retrieved June 28, 2018, from https://www.epa.gov/climate-research

NASA Climate Change Resource Reel

NASA has an abundance of materials for teaching about climate change. This resource collection highlights the best of NASA’s climate-related visualizations. Showcasing elements of the entire earth system, this compilation includes years of remarkable satellite data in one, convenient location. Retrieved December 16, 2011, from http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/earthandsun/climate_change.html

NOAA Climate Services

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a primary source of information for climate change. The Global Climate Dashboard and videos are features that could be integrated into this lesson. Retrieved December 16, 2011, from http://www.climate.gov/#climateWatch

The Story of Energy in the Earth System

According to the best available data from the CERES satellite instrument, along with information from other data sources, the radiation budget at the top-of-atmosphere was not balanced during the five years from 2000-2005. Approximately 0.85 Watts of energy were added to the Earth system, on average, for each square meter of the Earth’s surface. A continued imbalance of the radiation budget would mean a change in Earth’s climate. Both parts of this poster can be found on the Climate Change Resource DVD.

Windows to the Universe: Climate and Global Change

Windows to the Universe has a climate and global change section with teacher resources including links, lessons and videos. This site is a richly interlinked ecosystem for learning about the Earth and Space sciences for use by the general public, students, and teachers. The site is owned and managed by the National Earth Science Teachers Association. Retrieved December 14, 2011, from http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/cli_define.html