Climate Change (IB Topic D4.2)
Essential Idea(s): Anthropogenic causes result in changes to Earth’s climate, resulting in ecological shifts and adaptations.
Unit Length: 3 Lessons (+2 AHL)
Guiding Questions
◊ What are the drivers of climate change?
◊ What are the impacts of climate change on ecosystems?
| IB Statement(s) and Objective(s) |
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D4.3.1: Anthropogenic causes of climate change
D4.3.2: Positive feedback cycles in global warming
D4.3.4: Melting of landfast ice and sea ice as examples of polar habitat change
D4.3.5: Changes in ocean currents altering the timing and extent of nutrient upwelling
D4.3.6: Poleward and upslope range shifts of temperate species
D4.3.7: Threats to coral reefs as an example of potential ecosystem collapse
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Additional Higher Level D4.3.9: Phenology as research into the timing of biological events
D4.3.10: Disruption to the synchrony of phenological events by climate change
D4.3.11: Increases to the number of insect life cycles within a year due to climate change
D4.3.12: Evolution as a consequence of climate change
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| Activities: ⓟ = podcast / ⍰ = inquiry 5 / ⓦ = Write it / Ӕ = The academy / Ⓡ = Read it |
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ⓟ/ⓦ: 6 Graphs That Explain Climate Change (💁 /👫 max 3; +NOS link) If you’re getting good at science, you’re learning to love data. Take the 6 graphs detailed in this article and make a writeup or a podcast to explain what each of them means. Also discuss how this data is complex and difficult to collect, which leads to opportunities for climate skeptics to deny the validity and reliability of such data.
ⓡ: The problem of Arctic methane (💁) For decades, scientists have predicted that a substantial quantity of methane locked up in arctic ice will begin to release, causing even more warming as it does. Recent research provides the data to show it is beginning to happen. Read the article and explain: 1) What a feedback loop is (you’ll need to look this up) and how methane in arctic ice can create a feedback loop; 2) Why climate scientists are particularly worried about methane gas; 3) What kind of experimental work scientists needed to do in order to get the data to evaluate the risk of arctic methane.
ⓡ/ⓟ: Just 2 Degrees Warmer? How bad can that be? (💁 /👫 max 3 [podcast only]) Just a few degrees can change an ecosystem. This presents one of the greatest challenges facing climate scientists: To the general public, two degrees sounds like it’s very small increase, but in reality, such a small increase can devastate ecosystems worldwide. Read the article, and in a podcast or writeup, explain: 1) What is the potential harm from an increase of just a few degrees? (give extensive details here – use the article!); and 2) How you think the scientific community can better educate the public that 2 degrees is more harmful than they might suspect.
Ӕ: The Science of Climate Change (💁) Create a Khan Academy-style video (go here for inspiration) to explain the science behind the greenhouse effect. Be sure to also include the consequences of the greenhouse effect, and briefly cover how the data scientists have collected thus far supports this science.
ⓟ/ⓦ: A Famous Physicist Professor vs a Climate Skeptic (💁 /👫 max 3; +NOS link) As this video clearly shows, there are plenty of climate change deniers out there… although very few of them are actually scientists. Even so, they often end up with a seat on mainstream media events, creating a distorted view of the “debate” on climate change. Watch this debate, and discuss: 1) How do you think that so many people continue to believe that human-caused climate change is still “up for debate”; 2) What are the frequent claims made by climate deniers; 3) How “cherry picking” and other strategies can confuse data; and 4) How you think the world needs to respond to the climate denial movement.
ⓟ/ⓦ/ⓡ (💁 /👫 max 3; +NOS link): Resources! The following is a list of articles and resources on climate change. Choose any of these that grab your interest, and make a podcast/writeup or your choosing, making sure to cover all the key details. Aim to give a balance accurate reporting of science with your personal opinion on the matter, and be sure to make clear the distinction between these.
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