Ice Mass and Sea Level Changes

Leigh Stearns (University of Kansas)
Becca Walker (Mt. San Antonio College)

Editor: Beth Pratt-Sitaula (EarthScope Consortium)

This material was developed and reviewed through the GETSI curricular materials development process. (view details)

This material was developed and reviewed through the GETSI curricular materials development process. This rigorous, structured process includes:

team-based development to ensure materials are appropriate across multiple educational settings.
multiple iterative reviews and feedback cycles through the course of material development with input to the authoring team from both project editors and an external assessment team.
real in-class or field camp/course testing of materials in multiple courses with external review of student assessment data.
multiple reviews to ensure the materials meet the GETSI materials rubric which codifies best practices in curricular development, student assessment and pedagogic techniques.
created or reviewed by content experts for accuracy of the science content.

Initial Publication Date: December 14, 2015 | Reviewed: November 11, 2014 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

In this 2-3 week module, students interpret geodetic data from Greenland to assess spatial patterns and magnitudes of ice mass change and consider mechanisms and timescales for ice mass loss. They also investigate the relationship between ice mass change and global and regional sea level with an emphasis on the ongoing and future implications of sea level change on civilization. Materials for student reading and preparation exercises, in-class discussions, lab exercises, small group activities, gallery walks, and wall walks are provided, as well as teaching tips and suggestions for modifications for a variety of class formats.

Show more about Online Teaching suggestions

Webinar about teaching this module: Using Data to Teach About Societally Important Questions

For a majors-level module on climate change, please see Understanding Our Changing Climate: Data Behind Melting Ice and Changing Sea Level

Strengths of the Module

Students use a variety of authentic geodetic, ocean, atmosphere, and cryosphere data to qualitatively and quantitatively investigate how Greenland ice mass is changing and to assess the environmental and societal implications of ice mass and sea level changes. Students must grapple with the concepts of uncertainty, inconsistencies between different data sets, and nonlinear rates of change as they make predications about future ice mass changes.

Students explore scientific and societal aspects of sea level change as they complete the module. To encourage student consideration of sea level change on local, regional, and global scales, the module includes case studies of the impact of sea level change on Bangladesh, New York City, and southern California, and other domestic and international communities adapting to ongoing sea level changes.

Activities require peer interaction and instruction. Each module unit provides opportunities for small- and large-group discussions. Gallery and wall walks in Units 1, 4, and 5 encourage students to justify their opinions about controversial topics related to climate and sea level change adaptation. In Unit 3, students become familiar with different Greenland data sets (air temperature, snowmelt, ice velocity, and ice elevation) and must ultimately combine their individual data in groups to make predictions about ice mass changes in the study area. The quantitative exercises in Units 2, 3, and 4 are best implemented as lab or in-class exercises during which students work collaboratively to calculate rates of change for air temperature, sea level, GRACE, ice elevation, and bedrock GPS time series.