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Daily Pacing Guide: Climate Change and the Polar Regions This pacing guide should be used in conjunction with the PowerPoint “Introduction to the Polar Regions”. Supplemental material that is paired with this lesson is included below. Not all information from the PowerPoint is included in this guide, as it is meant to support, not replace, the PowerPoint-guided lesson. Introduction A Quick Review o The purpose of this section is to reinforce topics from the previous lesson, as well as to answer any questions that students may have about the previous material. Some important information to review is that: The Arctic is a frozen ocean and the Antarctic is a frozen continent. 90% of the world’s ice is found in Antarctica, with 99% of the continent being covered by ice. Sea ice does not contribute to sea level rise, as the ice is already displacing water. Because land ice is on land, it is not already displacing water. When land ice melts it contributes to sea level rise. There are no native people of Antarctica and there are no true permanent residents. James Cook was the first explorer to cross the Antarctic Circle. Important Definitions and Concepts Weather vs. Climate o Weather Variable Short term: minutes, hours, or days Weather in Antarctica: snowfall, blizzard

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Page 1: itsweb02.uncw.edu€¦  · Web viewBasically, anything that humans do that negatively impact or change nature. ... Middle photo: Chinstrap Penguin. Bottom photo: Emperor Penguin

Daily Pacing Guide: Climate Change and the Polar Regions

This pacing guide should be used in conjunction with the PowerPoint “Introduction to the Polar Regions”. Supplemental material that is paired with this lesson is included below. Not all information from the PowerPoint is included in this guide, as it is meant to support, not replace, the PowerPoint-guided lesson.

Introduction A Quick Review

o The purpose of this section is to reinforce topics from the previous lesson, as well as to answer any questions that students may have about the previous material. Some important information to review is that:

The Arctic is a frozen ocean and the Antarctic is a frozen continent. 90% of the world’s ice is found in Antarctica, with 99% of the continent

being covered by ice. Sea ice does not contribute to sea level rise, as the ice is already displacing

water. Because land ice is on land, it is not already displacing water. When land ice melts it contributes to sea level rise.

There are no native people of Antarctica and there are no true permanent residents.

James Cook was the first explorer to cross the Antarctic Circle.

Important Definitions and Concepts Weather vs. Climate

o Weather Variable Short term: minutes, hours, or days Weather in Antarctica: snowfall, blizzard

o Climate Established pattern Long term: over seasons, years, or decades Climate in Antarctica: cold, dry, windy

Global Warming vs. Climate Changeo Global warming

Industrial revolution Increase in industry around 1850 due to new technologies, new

energy sources, and the invention of new machines Read more about it here:

https://www.britannica.com/event/Industrial-Revolution Climate change

Increased global temperature caused by global warming

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Warmer temperatures lead to many of these different phenomenao Warmer temperatures thermal expansion of water sea

level riseo Warmer temperatures ice meltso Warmer temperatures warmer ocean more energy

more frequent and intense storms (hurricanes)

Anthropogenic Climate Change o Basically, anything that humans do that negatively impact or change natureo Most people relate anthropogenic climate change with greenhouse gases and the

combustion of fossil fuels Carbon dioxide (CO2) is probably one of the most well known

o Graph Shows the anthropogenic increase of CO2 in the atmosphere over time

Sources include energy, transportation, industry sectors, etc. The “magic” number or the number we do not want to surpass is 350 ppm

(parts per million) Currently, we are around 410 ppm

Find the current number here: https://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/monthly.html

Scientific Consensuso Not everyone thinks that climate change and global warming is caused by humanso Everyone has the right to their own opinion; however, the scientific community

has come to the conclusion that it is OUR faulto International Science Academies Joint Statement: "Climate change is real…It is

likely that most of the warming in recent decades can be attributed to human activities.”

o Graph Data from 4 independent science institutions worldwide

Integrated Questiono Give students a few minutes to talk and determine their answer.o Ask if they agree or disagree with each other’s answers. Why or why not?o ANSWER: Global warming is a trend in increasing global temperature since the

early 20th century. Climate change is a broad change in global phenomena. Examples of climate change include trends in increased global temperatures, sea level rise, ice mass loss, shifts in plant/flower blooming, and extreme weather events

Arctic The Arctic is Warming

o Warming in the arctic is 2 times faster than the global averageo Permafrost is ground that remains frozen for 2 or more years

(https://www.britannica.com/science/permafrost )

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Arctic Amplificationo Positive feedback: enhances changes and makes the system more unstableo Albedo (reflectivity)

White surfaces (ice/snow) high reflectivity, so reflects heat Dark surfaces (ocean) low reflectivity, so absorbs heat

Arctic Sea Iceo Video: “Arctic Sea Ice Continues a Trend of Shrinking Maximum Extents”, by

NASA Goddard https://youtu.be/4VvSQZ3FnXQ

Average September Extent o Arctic sea ice reaches its minimum during Septembero Arctic sea ice minimum is declining at a rate of 13.2% per decadeo Data is from satellite observationso 2012 September sea ice extent is the lowest ever in satellite recordso Top photo: 1979o Bottom photo: 2017

Arctic Sea Ice Extent Over the Last 1,500 Yearso Reconstruction of the pasto This graph only goes to 2000, so where do you think we are now?

Climate Change and Polar Bearso Remember that polar bears are marine mammalso Only found in the Arctic!!

Climate Change and Migratory Birdso Top photo: researcher setting up a microphone to record songbird callso Bottom photo: Lapland Longspur. This bird migrates thousands of miles to the

Arctic each year to breed

Integrated Questiono Give students a few minutes to talk and determine their answer.o Ask if they agree or disagree with each other’s answers. Why or why not?o ANSWER: A positive feedback loop enhances changes and makes a system more

unstable. A negative feedback loop buffers changes to a system and makes it more stable.

Warming in the Arctic and What Can We Do?o Video: “5 Things to Know About the Warming Arctic | Before the Flood”, by

National Geographic https://youtu.be/rKZ009-hSu4

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Antarctica Climate Change in Antarctica

o Left photo: Iceberg floating in pancake iceo Right photo: Iceberg floating in the open sea. It is about 100 feet tall

Antarctica Ice Mass Variation Since 2002o Has been losing ice mass since 2002o Accelerated loss since 2009

Ice Mass Gain and Losso Ice gain and loss have different causeso East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS)

Last ice age was around 10,000 years agoo West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS)

Loss began after the industrial revolution Tie to human activity has been demonstrated through a large

number of observations and theoretical models

Antarctic Ice Sheet Contribution to Global Sea Levelo 1992 to 2017o Ice loss has tripled since 2012

Increased global sea level by 0.12 inch

Melting Ice Cap in the Antarctic Peninsulao Video: “Front Line of Global Warming and Sea Level Rise”, by Steve Emslie

https://youtu.be/dZxgbeLReyQ

Does sea level rise impact us?o GDP = gross domestic product (market value of goods and services produced over

a period of time) Equates to money

Integrated Questiono Give students a few minutes to talk and determine their answer.o Ask if they agree or disagree with each other’s answers. Why or why not?o ANSWERS: The EAIS is steadily gaining ice mass, while the WAIS has been

losing ice mass. The EAIS has been gaining mass since the last ice age and the WAIS has been losing mass since the industrial revolution. We should be concerned about sea level rise! It impacts everyone. One centimeter in sea level rise causes us to lose 1 meter of shoreline!

Climate Change and Penguinso Approximately 20 million breeding pairs of penguins in Antarctica

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This number does not account for non-breeding penguins, chicks, older penguins, etc.

o Top photo: Adélie Penguino Middle photo: Chinstrap Penguino Bottom photo: Emperor Penguin

A Disappearing Act… and How are Antarctic ecosystems impacted by climate change?o Video: “Antarctica’s Disappearing Penguins Reveal Impact of Climate Change”,

by CBS This Morning https://youtu.be/3PlEln1_fXo

o Video: “The Curious Ecosystems of Antarctica | Continent 7: Antarctica”, by National Geographic

https://youtu.be/QcDl0JjVfSc

Research Stationso Materials must be flown or shipped in. Multiple trips may be needed to bring in

all of the supplies. o They would dump their waste into the sea and through holes in the ice.

Bad for the ocean Previously talked about seals that use these holes for air what if it is

filled with trash? How do they get air? o Photo: burning trash at McMurdo Station (USA) in the 1970so Now

Recycling program No longer burn waste

All burnables are shipped back to their home country for disposal

Environmentally Friendly Research Stationso Princess Elisabeth Station (Belgium)

Zero emission station Powered by 9 wind turbines, 2 different types of solar panels, and batteries

that store excess power Generator for emergency use

Well insulated with 9 layers of different materials (wood, aluminum, felt, paper, etc.), so that there is minimal heat loss

Water and air tight All water is recycled, even the waste water

75% of the water is reused Water is recycled up to 5 times and then they dispose of it

o Students learned about this research station during one of their WebQuests

Tourismo Increasing issueo Impacts remote areaso There have also been airplane crashes in addition to ship crashes

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Introduced Specieso Most introductions occur on Sub-Antarctic island because it is not as cold as

continental Antarcticao Can be brought in on ship ballasts or attached to hullso Greatest areas of risk are sites frequently visited by tourists and research stations

Antarctica in 2070o From a study published in 2018 in Nature called “Choosing the Future of

Antarctica”, by Rintoul et al.o Figure 1

Scenario if greenhouse gas emissions remain unchecked, global temperatures continued to rise, and ineffective policies

Antarctica will be affected by distant and local impacts

Figure 2o From a study published in 2018 in Nature called “Choosing the Future of

Antarctica”, by Rintoul et al.o 2 possible outcomes

Low emissions = good and effective policies causing increased resilience and stability

High emissions = bad or ineffective policies causing increased instability and destruction

What do you think Antarctica will look like in 2070?o Class discussiono Have students think about their answer individually, then have students discuss

what they think will happen in small groups. o Lead into a short class discussiono Student answers may vary

Climate Change and YOU Activity

o Have students calculate their ecological footprint at: http://www.footprintcalculator.org

o Worksheet: “My Ecological Footprint Results” Have students answer the questions based on their calculated results.

Exit Ticket Have students complete and turn in the exit ticket before they leave.