For the InstructorThis material supports the Climate of Change InTeGrate Module. If you would like your students to have access to this material, we suggest you either point them at the Student Version which omits the framing pages with information designed for faculty (and this box). Or you can download these pages in several formats that you can include in your course website or local Learning Managment System. Learn more about using, modifying, and sharing InTeGrate teaching materials.
In this module you will be learning about the climate system, how it works, how it changes, and how it impacts human society. You will learn to look at climate data and interpret patterns and predictions. Below you will find links to readings to help you prepare for class discussions about climate variability and climate change. You will also find study guides with vocabulary, concept lists, and review questions. You can use these resources as needed to prepare for class, test your knowledge, and study for exams!
Unit 1: Forecasting Climate Variability and Change: A Matter of Survival
In this unit, you will read an article about the impacts of climate on past civilizations. You will also learn about how the climate system works, and factors that force changes in climate.
Unit 1 Reading: Climate Forecasting and Adaptation through the Ages
Unit 1 Study Guide: Climate Variability and Change
Unit 2: Deciphering Climate Variability
The activities in this unit give you an opportunity to see the world through the eyes of a scientist, and learn how to read and interpret climate data on maps. You will examine data from the tropical Pacific or from the North Atlantic or from both. You will find that the climate in these regions of the globe is very sensitive to changes in the motion of the atmosphere and oceans.
Unit 2 Reading: Observing Climate Variability
Unit 2 Study Guide: Practice Deciphering and Interpreting Climate Data Maps
Unit 3: Anomalous Behavior
Activities in this unit allow you to explore the ENSO system and contemplate the nature of global ocean surface oscillations. You will gain experience reading sea surface temperature and SST anomaly maps, as well as calculating recurrence interval.
Unit 3 Reading: From Anomaly to Oscillation
Unit 3 Study Guide: ENSO
Unit 4: Slow and Steady?
In this unit you will consider recent changes in the Greenland ice sheet, including albedo changes from a variety of elevations on the ice sheet and area changes for some of Greenland's marine-terminating outlet glaciers.
Unit 4 Reading: Interpreting Albedo Data
Unit 4 Study Guide: Slow and Steady
Unit 5: systems@play
In this unit you will become part of the climate system and explore the interaction of its components. You will gain experience graphing and analyzing greenhouse gas data and modeling a future climate.
Unit 5 Reading: Your Climate Family
Unit 5 Study Guide: Climate Components and Models
Unit 6: Adapting to a Changing World
In this unit, you will investigate national attitudes, as well as your own attitude, about climate change and distinguish between climate change mitigation and climate change adaptation. You will also discuss several examples of climate change adaptation strategies from the United States and other countries.
Unit 6 Reading: Adaptation and Mitigation
Unit 6 Study Guide: Climate Change and You