Time Scales of Climate Change
Summary
This activity introduces students to the fact that climate change occurs at timescales of 1 year to 108 years and there are various drivers to explain these changes. It addresses how scientists detect these scales of climate change on the geologic record. Students, using what they learn, are also asked to evaluate the potential drivers of climate change since the Industrial Revolution.
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Context
Audience
Introductory non-science students in various science courses
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered
- oxygen isotopes as a paleoclimate tool
- division
- division
How the activity is situated in the course
a lab to introduce climate and time - wherever it is needed
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity
- climatic cycles in geologic record
- reading graphs
- ancient proxies for temperature
- anthropogenic climate change
- reading graphs
- ancient proxies for temperature
- anthropogenic climate change
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity
- analysis of data (using graphs)
- formulation of hypotheses
- synthesis of ideas
- formulation of hypotheses
- synthesis of ideas
Other skills goals for this activity
working in groups
Description of the activity/assignment
Students examine and analyze data sets related to climatic variations on annual, decadal, centurial, millenial, and longer time scales.
Determining whether students have met the goals
Students will turn in their answers at the end of lab.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Teaching materials and tips
- Time Scales of Climate Change lab (Microsoft Word 753kB Apr10 12)