In this activity, students will observe the effect of the gases resulting from a burned fossil fuel on the heat absorption of air and determine the ability of phytoplankton to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. This activity is part of a set of three activities exploring the effects of phytoplankton on water and air. Full description.

In this activity students will simulate climate variability and come to understand that long-term climate averages are the result of significant annual climate variability. After this activity students will understand that long-term climate averages are the result of significant annual climate variability and be able to express the fact that random climate variability makes detecting climate change ... Full description.

This article from the American Institute of Physics discusses the evolution of scientific views about global climate change. The history of this evolution gives a good example of the stepwise fashion in which science commonly proceeds, contrary to the familiar heroic myths of discoveries springing forth in an instant. The history also suggests why, as the NAS committee worried, most people still fail ... Full description.

This calculator allows users to calculate their ecological footprint in terms of trees required to sequester the carbon from carbon dioxide emissions produced by household use and transportation. Exact emissions figures or national averages can entered into the calculator, and the amount of carbon dioxide generated by burning of fossil fuels is calclulated, as well as the number of trees it will take ... Full description.

This article explains the importance of forests in the carbon cycle and why they must be preserved. Topics include carbon sequestration in forests and strategies for forest-based mitigation of global warming. It further states that measures to protect, restore, and sustainably manage forests can offer significant climate change mitigation potential and that forest-based measures can be an effective ... Full description.

In this activity, students investigate the retreat of Grinnel Glacier in Glacier National Park, Montana. Using a map, aerial photos, and temperature data, they will estimate and graph its rate of recession, understand how data on glaciers is collected, and understand how glaciers are indicators of climate change. Alignments to state and national standards, evaluation questions, links to additional ... Full description.

This organization was established to assess scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation. Links at this site lead to pages entitled About IPCC, Activities, Calendar of Events, Publications, Presentations and Graphics, Press releases and Speeches, and Official documents. The main ... Full description.

This table displays the Carbon economic efficiency for 141 countries in metric tons per U.S. dollar of gross domestic product (GDP). The data can be displayed in order by rank (first to last), or in alphabetical order. Each country's name is a link to additional environmental statistics about it: CO2 emissions, ecological footprint, endangered species, and others. There is also a link to an interactive ... Full description.

This lab teaches students about the nature of carbon, the different types of compounds it exists in (e.g. charcoal, glucose, carbon dioxide), the biochemical reactions it takes part in (photosynthesis and respiration), the range of processes that carbon and carbon compounds are involved in on Earth, and how these link together form the carbon cycle. They will get a feel for how the whole carbon cycle ... Full description.

As part of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Paleoclimatology Program, information is collected from scientists across the globe to study past climate in hopes of achieving a better understanding of the Earth's past, present and future climate. This site was developed to help educate, inform and highlight the importance of paleoclimate research, as well as to show how paleoclimate ... Full description.