lesson plan – climate vs. weather summary - gcoos · 2021. 3. 21. · lesson plan – climate vs....

LessonPlan–Climatevs.Weather

SummaryThislessonwillexplainwhatclimateis(asopposedtoweather)anddiscussfactorsabouttheearth’spositionandrotationthatinfluencetheclimate.Otherfactorsaffectingclimateandwhytheearthisgettingwarmerwillbediscussed.Ahands-on,inclassroomactivitywillreinforceconceptsofthislesson.ContentAreaEarthScienceGradeLevel5-8KeyConcept(s)•  Climateandweatheraretwodifferentthings.Climatedescribeslongtermpatterns

ofweatherinregionsbasedondistancefromequator,distancefromocean,oceancurrents,prevailingwinds,andtopography.

•  Earthsheatbudgetalsoaffectsclimateanddependsonhowmuchheatfromthesunisreflectedorabsorbed.


KeyConcept(s)•  Climateisalsoaffectedbytheshapeofearthsorbit,thetiltofearth’saxis,andthe

wobbleofearth’srotation.

ObjectivesStudentswillbeableto:•  Explainthedifferencebetweenclimateandweather.•  Explainwhyearth’sicecapsareanimportantfactorinbalancingtheearth’sheat

andclimate.•  Understandhowdifferentgeologicandoceanicfeaturesinfluencetheclimatein

differentregionsoftheearth.•  Understandtherelativesizedifferencebetweensun,earth,andmoon.•  Understandhowtheshapeoftheearth’sorbit,thetiltofearthsaxis,andthe

wobbleofearth’srotationinfluenceearth’sclimate.


ResourcesNOAAsitesforclimateandweatherinformationandeducationmaterials.http://www.noaa.gov/educationhttps://www.climate.govhttp://www.weather.govGCOOSclimateassociatedmapstoshowcurrentweatherandwarningsintheGulfofMexico.Mapsanddataalsodepictwhatparametersaremeasuredbyremoteequipment(candiscussbenefitstoshortandlongtermdata).Thisproductalsohasmapsthatdepictsealevelrisescenarios.https://products.gcoos.org/search

NationalScienceEducationStandardorOceanLiteracyEssentialPrinciple

LearningGoals

UnifyingConceptsandProcesses1.Systems,order,andorganization

Asystemisanorganizedgroupofrelatedobjectsorcomponentsthatformawhole.Systemscanconsistoforganisms,machines,fundamentalparticles,galaxies,ideas,numbers,andeducation.Systemshaveboundaries,components,resourcesflow(inputandoutput),andfeedback.

UnifyingConceptsandProcesses2.Evidence,models,andexplanation

Modelsaretentativeschemesorstructuresthatcorrespondtorealobjects,events,orclassesofevents,andthathaveexplanatorypower.Modelshelpscientistsandengineersunderstandhowthingswork.



LearningGoals

UnifyingConceptsandProcesses3.Change,constancy,andmeasurement

Changesmightoccur,forexample,inpropertiesofmaterials,positionofobjects,motion,andformandfunctionofsystems.Interactionswithinandamongsystemsresultinchange.Changesvaryinrate,scale,andpattern,includingtrendsandcycles.

ScienceasInquiryA.1.Abilitiesnecessarytodoscientificinquiry.Usemathematicsinallaspectsofscientificinquiry.

Mathematicsisessentialtoaskingandansweringquestionsaboutthenaturalworld.Mathematicscanbeusedtoaskquestions;togather,organize,andpresentdata;andtostructureconvincingexplanations.



LearningGoals

ScienceasInquiryA.2.Understandingsaboutscientificinquiry

Differentkindsofquestionssuggestdifferentkindsofscientificinvestigations.Someinvestigationsinvolveobservinganddescribingobjectsorevents;someinvolveexperiments;someinvolveseekingmoreinformation;someinvolvediscoveryofnewobjectsandphenomena;andsomeinvolvemakingmodels.

EarthandSpaceScienceD.2.Structureoftheearthsystem

Clouds,formedbythecondensationofwatervapor,affectweatherandclimate.Globalpatternsofatmosphericmovementinfluencelocalweather.Oceanshaveamajoreffectonclimate,becausewaterintheoceansholdsalargeamountofheat.



LearningGoals

EarthandSpaceScienceD.3.Earthisthesolarsystem

Thesunisthemajorsourceofenergyforphenomenaontheearth’ssurface,suchasgrowthofplants,winds,oceancurrents,andthewatercycle.Seasonsresultfromvariationsintheamountofthesun’senergyhittingthesurface,duetothetiltoftheearth’srotationonitsaxisandthelengthoftheday.

Principle3(6-8:A.,A.10.,A.12.)Theoceanisamajorinfluenceonweatherandclimate.TheinteractionofoceanicandatmosphericprocessescontrolsweatherandclimatebydominatingEarth’senergysystem.

A.Theoceanmoderatesglobalweatherandclimatebyabsorbingmostofthesolarradiationreachingearth.A.10.Short-termandseasonalchangesinoceantemperaturecanaffectrainfallandtemperaturesonland(i.e.weather).Long-termchangesinoceantemperaturecanaffecttheclimate.A.12.Longtermweatherandoceanographicdatasetscontributetoclimatepredictions.


ClimateorWeather?What’sthedifference?

ClimateLongertimescales

WeatherShortertimescales

Anotherwaytothinkaboutit…

Wethinkofweatherintermsofthingslike:•  Brightness•  Cloudiness•  Humidity•  Precipitation•  Temperature•  Visibility/fog•  Wind…

Climateiswhatyouexpect…•  AveryhotsummerinJulybasedonaverage

ofweatherovertimeandspace.Weatheriswhatyouget…•  Arainyafternoon.•  It’showtheatmosphereisbehavingNOW

orintheshorttermofminutes-to-months.

ClimateisaffectedbyEarth’sHeatBudget

RememberthatscienceisallaboutENERGY?Heatisanotherformofenergy.•  Whereit’s

comingfrom… •  Whereit’sgoing•  Howit’s

changing…

ThebalanceofheatenteringandleavingEarthisonefactoraffectingtheheatbudget.

AlbedoistheLatinworldfor"whiteness“.ItisusedtodescribehowmuchsunlightisreflectedfromthesurfaceofEarth.

Snowandicereflectmoreheatbacktospacethansoilandwater. Figuringouttheheat

budgetiscomplicated.Thinkaboutthis:IceonEarthmeltsLandbelowtheicenowabsorbsmoreheatthantheicedid.WhathappenstothetemperatureonEarth?Whathappenstotheremainingice?

Theideaof“tippingpoints” Ifyouguessed•  Temperatureincreases•  IcemeltsfasterYouarecorrect!HowmuchicecanEarthlosebeforeplanetarytemperatureistoohotforwatertofreeze?Shouldwecare?Firstwe’llinvestigatesomedrivingforcesofclimate.Duringtheyear,we’llexploremanyreasonswhyweshouldcareandwhatwecandotodealwith“tipping.”

Activity:Investigatingaspectsoftheearth’srotationaroundthesunthataffector“drive”theearth’sclimate.

Thisactivitywillutilizeamodeltodemonstratehowtheshapeoftheearthsrotationaroundthesun(itisnotaperfectcircle,butclose!),thetiltoftheearth’saxis,andthewobbleofearth’sspindrivechangesintheearth’sclimate.Materials:•  Threecircles(eachadifferentcolor):

1measuring30cm(sun)1measuring8cm(earth)1measuring2cm(moon)

•  1Pieceofyarn(approximately150cmor1.5m)•  Ruler•  Pencil,marker•  Foamballs(Approximately2”diameterorlarger)•  Lollipopsticksorsmallwoodenskewers(forearthsaxis)•  Spinningtop(multipleifpossible)

Procedureandexplanationsonfollowingslides:

So,whataffectsEarth’salbedo(howmuchsolarenergyisreflectedbacktospacecomparedtohowmuchEarthreceives)?

•  Today,wewillinvestigatethreeofthese‘drivers’ofEarth’sclimate.•  WewillstartbyremovingtheitemsinyourZiplocbag(youeachgetoneorange,

oneblueandoneyellowcircleand1pieceofyarn).•  Noticethesizeofeach.Whatdoyouthinkeachcirclerepresents?

Whenyouaredone,yourcirclesshouldlooklikethis.

Sun Earth Moon

Labeleachofthethreecircleswithapencilormarker.

Measurethediameterofeachcircleincentimeters.Writethenumberyoumeasureontheappropriatecircle.Calculatethis:Themoonisabout________%thesizeofEarth.

Thetrickisthatthe“is”goesinthenumerator(top)andthe“of”goesinthedenominator(bottom:

Earth

Moon

Usethe“is”over“of”tricktohelpsolveforpercent.

Calculatethis:Themoonisabout________%thesizeofEarth.

8cm

2cm

Sun Earth Moon

Approximatediametermeasurementsforyourcirclesare:

IfthediameteroftheMoonis2cmandthediameterofEarthis8cm:28(asafraction2/8)=0.25Asapercent:0.25x100=25%.Usingmorerealisticdiametersofthemoon(3,500km)andEarth(12,700km),themoreexactnumberiscloserto27%,butyougettheidea!

30cm8cm 2cm

ThediameteroftheMoonisabout¼thesizeoftheEarth.

HowdoesthediameteroftheSuncomparetothatofearth?

•  Inouractivity,theSunisonlyabout4xthesizeofEarthbecauseithastofitonyourdesk!

•  Inreality,thediameteroftheSunisabout100XgreaterthanthatofEarth.

•  IfourEarthis8cm,whatis100xthisdiametermeasuredincentimeters?•  Let’sgooutsideandseewhatthisnumberlookslikecomparedtoour8

cmEarth!

Sun Earth Moon> >

Otherwaystoconsider800cm:

2.4cm=1inch800cm=800/2.4=315inches12inches=1ft315inches=315/1227feet3ft=1yard:27/3=9yards…that’showmuchfabricweused!

Thelongestknownfabricbannerwas7.8km.Itwasmadefora1938paradeinSpaintocelebratetheopeningofaWorldCupstadium!That’s8,530yards…about950Xlongerthanours!

Howdowemeasuretime?

OneDay OneMonth OneYearThetimeittakesthemoontoorbittheEarthonecompletetime(27days).

ThetimeittakestheEarthtospinaroundonitsaxisonecompletetime(24hours).

ThetimeittakesEarthtocompleteoneorbitaroundtheSun(365days).

ClimateDriver#1:ChangesinEarth’sorbitaroundtheSun

Takeyouryarnandlet’sinvestigate…1.Laythesunflatonyourdesk.2.Makeacirclewithyouryarnaroundthesun.3.PlacetheEarthanywhereonthepieceofyarn.4.Measurethedistanceincentimetersfromthecenterofyourearthtotheedgeofthesunclosesttoit.Ifyoumovetheearthtoanotherpointalongthecircumferenceofthecircle,willthedistancetothesunchange?

Sun

Earth

Stretchyourcircletomakeanellipsearoundthesun.

Sun

Earth

Earth

1.  Placetheearthontheyarnatapositionontheellipseclosesttothesunandmeasurethedistanceasbefore.

2.  Movetheearthtoapointontheellipsefurthestfromthesunandmeasureagain.

ChangesinEarth’sorbitaroundthesun

Sun

Earth

Sun

Earth

EarthEarth

Whenearthhasanellipticalorbit,itisclosertothesuninonepartofitsorbitandfurtherfromthesuninanotherpartofitsorbit.Theamountofsolarenergyreachingdifferentpartsofearthdependsonitsorbit.ThefancywordforthisisECCENTRICITY.Theshapeoftheorbitchangesoncyclesofabout100,000years.

Figureitout…whatistheleastamountofyarnwecouldhaveusedtoorbitour30cmsun?

About94cm

ClimateDriver#2:ClimatechangealsoresultsfromchangesinthetiltoftheEarth.

•  ImaginetheEarthisalollipop.ThestickrunningthroughthelollipopisEarth’s(imaginary)axis.

•  ThepartsoftheEarththattilttowardtheSungethotterthanthepartsawayfromit.•  WewillusethefoamballsandlollipopstickstomakeEarthonitsaxis.Wewilldrawtheequatortoshowhowtheplanetisdividedintohalvesorhemispheres.

Nextwewilldrawtwomore“special”linesoflatitudecirclingtheglobe.•  Theequatorislatitude0.

•  Latitude23.5NorthiscalledtheTropicofCancer•  Latitude23.5SouthiscalledtheTropicofCapricorn.

TheyarespecialbecausetheyarethegreatestdistancesnorthandsouthinEarth’stiltpatternwherethesunmayappeardirectlyoverhead.

WhereinEarth’stiltpattern?

•  Solstices•  SummersolsticeisaroundJun21.

Itiswhenthesun’sraysaredirectlyoverheadtheTropicofCancer—wegetourlongestdaylighthoursoftheyear.

•  WintersolsticeisaroundDec.21.WegetthefewesthoursofsunlightwhilethosealongtheTropicofCapricorngettheirlongestdays.

•  Equinoxes•  Vernalequinox(startofspring)is

aroundMarch21.ItiswhenEarth’saxisisstraightcomparedtothesun.Thesun’sraysaredirectlyovertheequator.

ThetiltiswhatgivesEarthitsfourseasons(spring,summer,winter,fall).Seasonsareoppositeinthetwohemispheres.WhileweenjoysummerintheNorthernHemisphere,ourneighborsintheSouthernHemisphereareexperiencingwinter.

SummerintheNorthernHemisphereTheNorthPoletiltstowardtheSun.

WinterintheNorthernHemisphereTheNorthPoleistiltedawayfromtheSun.

OnecycleofEarth’stiltpatterntakesabout41,000years!

ClimateDriver#3:ClimatechangeisalsoinfluencedbychangesinthewobbleoftheEarth(calledprecession).

•  ThinkoftheEarthasaspinningtop.•  Doesthetopstayononeplace?•  Whathappensasaspinningtopslowsdown?

Spinthewritingtoponapageinyourdatabook.Ifyoudon’thaveone,usearegulartopandapencil.Observethepaththetoptakesasitspins.Isthereonepointonthepageoraspiral?ThisishowtheEarthwobblesasitspins!

ChangesinEarth’swobbleaffectwhenaparticularseasonwilloccurandhowdifferenttheseasonswillbe.

Sun

Earth

Earth

•  TherearepointsinEarth’swobblewhereNorthernHemispherewintersoccurwhenEarthisfarthestfromtheSun

•  SummersolsticesoccurwhenEarthisclosesttotheSun.

•  Thiscanresultinwintersthatarecolderthanusualandsummersthatarewarmerthanusual.

Ear

SUMMER

WINTER

ThefancynameforthiswinterpositionisAPHELIONandsummerpositionisPERIHELION.•  “Helios”=Greekforgodofthesun.•  “peri”=Greekfornear•  “apo”=Greekforaway

Earthcompletesonefullcycleof“wobble”aboutevery26,000years.

TheclimatedriversweinvestigatedarecalledtheMilankovitchCycles

OtherfactorsalsoinfluenceEarth’sclimate.–  Theamountandtypeofgasintheatmosphere–  Motionoftectonicplates(becausetheirpositionsaffectwindand

oceancurrents).–  Volcanicactivity

MILUTINMILANKOVIĆ(1879-1958)

Serbian

ChangesinOrbitAbout100,000yearcycle

ChangesinTiltAbout41,000yearcycle

ChangesinWobbleAbout26,000yearcycle

LessondevelopedbyDr.ChrisSimonielloforBayPointElementary.Standards-cross-referencingandformattingbyGrantCraig.Questions,comments,edits?ContactDr.Chris:[email protected]

lesson plan – climate vs. weather summary - gcoos · 2021. 3. 21. · lesson plan – climate vs....

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