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climate change...activities

© 2002 American Geological Institute. http://www.agiweb.org

Contents: All Activities and Investigations

Climate Change Activities
Activity 1 
Activity 2 
Activity 3 
Activity 4 
Activity 5 
Activity 6 

Writing a series of newspaper articles about global warming sets the stage for the Chapter Challenge. Students learn how and why global climate has changed over time and what effects climate change has on the community. 

Students will:

• Understand how changes in climate are tied to the Earth System. 
• Participate in scientific inquiry and construct logical conclusions based on evidence. 
• Recognize the global impacts of a change in climate. 
• Appreciate the value of Earth science information in improving the quality of life globally and within the community. 

Activity 1  --  Present-Day Climate in Your Community

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:
 

1.  Factors Affecting Climate

• What's Climate Change?, INNOVA Center for Sustainable Development 

This web site offers information on factors affecting climates, including both natural and human factors.
http://www.climategateway.com/climateenglish/queescc.htm
• What is Climate?, Utah State Office of Education

This site provides basic information on factors that influence the measurement of climates (i.e., 
elevation, latitude, prevailing wind direction, topography, and ocean currents). 
http://www.usoe.k12.ut.us/curr/science/sciber00/8th/earth/sciber/climate.htm
 
• Latitude 
• Excellence in Water Resources, Colorado State University 

For a general description of the latitude and its effect on climate and air circulation, explore this web site.
http://waterknowledge.colostate.edu/latitude.htm
• The Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment 

This web site provides information on latitude and the varying amounts of sunlight received from different latitudes on Earth.
http://www.doc.mmu.ac.uk/aric/eae/Climate/Older/Latitude.html
•  A Primer: Factors Affecting Arctic Weather and Climate  

"The factors discussed in this section are building blocks to understanding arctic weather and climate. Each factor plays an important role alone and in interaction with other factors. 
http://nsidc.org/arcticmet/factors/

 

• Elevation and Geographic Features 
• Elevation in Colorado, Colorado State University

Discover the effects of elevation on Colorado's climate.
http://waterknowledge.colostate.edu/elev.htm
• Secondary Influences on Climate

The secondary influences affecting climate are introduced in this web site including position relative to land and water masses, altitude, topography, prevailing winds, ocean currents, and prevalence of cyclonic storms agents.
http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/weather/A0857394.html

Back to the Isle of Man: Geography and Climate, IM Government
Explore the British island, Isle of Man, and learn what role its geography has in creating its mild climate.
http://www.gov.im/geography.html 

• Global Climate 
• The Official Global Climate Observation System Web Site, World Meteorological Organization, the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the International Council for Science 

This web site provides information on world weather and climate conditions as well as global climate change with respect to mean sea level and  terrestrial ecosystems.
http://www.wmo.ch/web/gcos/gcoshome.html
• Climate Variability and Change, the United States Global Change Research Program 

Learn about the factors affecting the world's climate system (i.e., natural and anthropogenic changes) and how these can also influence it's social and economic well-being by exploring this web site.
http://www.usgcrp.gov/usgcrp/ProgramElements/understanding.htm

 

Part A: Physical Features and Climate in Your Community
To complete the investigation, each student group will need:
• Topographic map of community 
• Resources that provide climate data tables, go to the following web sites: 
• Comparative Climactic Data for the United States through 2000, NOAA

If you would like to access other information (i.e., temperature, wind, sunshine, cloudiness, and humidity) on additional locations which are not provided in the book, visit this web site.
http://ols.nndc.noaa.gov/plolstore/plsql/olstore.prodspecific?prodnum=C00095-PUB-A0001#TABLES?prodnum=C00095-PUB-A0001
• National Weather Service

This link takes you to a directory with folders for 37 states and/or provinces. Inside each folder there are daily climate data and forecasts for selected locations in that area. Data is not available for all states at this site. 
http://weather.noaa.gov/pub/data/climate/daily/
• Climate-at-a-Glance, NOAA

Search 106 years of archived weather data for the United States at this site. The user can query the site by searching for national, regional, state, and city information, by preciptation or temperature, and period of time. This site even allows the user to display the information in a bar chart, line chart, or table.
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/cag3/cag3.html 
• El Nino Impacts on the U.S., U.S. Climate Prediction Center

This website provides data tables/maps of US precipitation and temperature rates based on data from previous El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events.
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/monitoring_and_data/ENSO_connections.html


Part B: Physical Features and Climate in a Different Community
To complete the investigation, each student group will need:

• Topographic map of a different community 

To complete the Inquiring Further section of this activity:

To learn more about weather systems in the United States, visit the following web sites:

• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

http://www.noaa.gov/wx.html
• National Weather Service  

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
• Interactive Weather Information Network  

http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/graphicsversion/rbigmain.html


To learn more about the jet stream, visit the following web sites:

• Jet Stream, National Weather Service (NWS) 

 http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/Missoula/jet1.html 
• Jet Steam, University of Illinois 

http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/cyc/upa/jet.rxml
• Understanding Winds, Jet Streams, USAToday.com

Scroll down to the "Understanding Winds, Jet Streams" section of this online newspaper to investigate the science behind the jet stream.

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/wwind0.htm

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Activity 2  --  Paleoclimates

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:
 
1.  Direct Records and Proxies
• Proxy Climatic Data, NOAA Paleoclimatology Program 

This site lists and describes the widely-used proxy climate data types.
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/primer_proxy.html
• Crazy Climates, Great Plains Regional Center for Global Environmental Change 

On this web site, information is offered on the background, trends, and evidence of paleoclimates.
http://nesen.unl.edu/lessons/envirchange/flcrazy2.html

2.  Fossil Pollen
• Fossil Pollen of the Colorado Plateau, Northern Arizona University 

Learn why fossil pollen is a useful tool for determining paleoclimates.
http://www.cpluhna.nau.edu/Tools/fossil_pollen.htm
• Fossil Groups: Spores and Pollen, USGS  

Learn how pollen can yield records of vegetation and community changes over time by exploring this site. 
http://geology.er.usgs.gov/paleo/sporepollen.shtml
• Pollen in Marine Cores, Columbia University

A prediction of the future climates and environments requires a clear understanding of the past. Explore this university's online document to learn what marine sediments indicate about past global climates. 
http://unite.ukans.edu/explorer/explorer-db/rsrc/836283710-81ED7D4C.1.PDF
(NOTE:  Adobe Reader is needed to view this document.  Please click here or visit http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html to download the latest, FREE version.)  
 
3. Ice Cores
• Ice Core Dating, Talk.Origins Archive 

Discover how and why scientists date ice cores, as well as why these cores are important in determining relative ages and characteristics of paleoenvironents by exploring this site.
http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/icecores.html
• Learning from Polar Ice Core Research, American Chemical Society 

This site offers information regarding the new understanding of long-term climate changes, with some surprises, which is emerging from analysis of ice core samples.
http://pubs.acs.org/hotartcl/est/99/apr/learn.html
• Why Study Ice Cores, National Ice Core Laboratory (NICL) 

This site includes a brief description about why ice cores are an important source of information. 
http://nicl.usgs.gov/why.htm

• How is it done? NICL  

This section of the National Ice Core Laboratory web site takes you step by step through the process of taking, obtaining, studying an ice core. 
http://nicl.usgs.gov/process.htm
•  Ice Core Contributions to Global Change Research: Past Successes and Future Directions, NICL  

This article goes into great detail about using ice cores for climate change research. 
http://www.nicl-smo.sr.unh.edu/icwg/
(NOTE:  Adobe Reader is needed to view this document.  Please click here or visit http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html to download the latest, FREE version.)
 

4. Deep-Sea Sediments

• Introduction to Deep Sea Sediment, Geological Oceanography Program of the 

Department of Marine Sciences
Discover the basic characteristics of sediments from the deep ocean.
http://rmocfis.uprm.edu/~morelock/dpseased.htm
• Ocean Bottom Sediments, University of Alaska, Fairbanks 

To learn more about varying sediments found on the sea floor,  geographic patterns of sediment distribution, and information that can be revealed by investigating these sediments, visit this site. 
http://www.sfos.uaf.edu/msl111/notes/bottom.html#top

 
5. Glacial Landforms and Sediments

• Glacial Landforms and Features, Rice University 

This site offers information on the landforms created by glaciers.
http://www.glacier.rice.edu/land/5_glaciallandforms.html
• What's a Glacier, Geophysical Institute Information Office 

This web site provides information on glacial formation, movement, and associated landforms.
http://www.asf.alaska.edu:2222/types/types_begin.html

6. Tree Rings

• Photo Gallery of Tress and Tree Rings, University of Tennessee

This web site provides photographs about tree-ring research. Each photograph is annotated with captions poses
a thought-provoking question.
http://web.utk.edu/~grissino/gallery.htm
•  Classic References in Dendrochronology, University of Tennessee

If you are in need of additional resources for tree ring research, visit this site.
http://web.utk.edu/~grissino/references.htm 

To complete the Inquiring Further section of this activity:

To learn more about the Greenland Ice Sheet Project (GISP2), visit the following web sites:

• Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2, National Snow and Ice Data Center 

This web site explores the retrieval of the longest deep-ice core available in history of its kind from the Northern Hemisphere. 
http://www-nsidc.colorado.edu/arcss/projects/gisp2.html

 
To learn more about techniques for dating deep-sea sediments, visit the following web sites:

• Magnetic Stripes and Isotopic Clocks, USGS 

This web site provides information on astounding observations of ocean rocks that led to the unlocking of one of ocean's secrets.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/stripes.html
• Other Dating Methods, Columbia University 

Learn about non-radiometric methods that yield relative ages of sediment by exploring this site.
http://cathar.jcu.edu.au/~jluly/Dating2.html
• The Geologic Record of Climate Change, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory-Columbia College 

View the lecture notes on climate change of Columbia College Professor, James D. Hays. He explores the geologic perspective of climate change using sedimentary rocks, glaciers, and the ocean floor as indicators.
http://rainbow.ldeo.columbia.edu/ees/SIPA/Lectures/Lecture_15/
• The Use of Biostratigraphy in Different Sediment Types 

This site provides basic information on biostratigraphy in two main environments: terrestrial and marine. 
http://www.xs4all.nl/~strats/biostrat.htm
 

To learn more about paleoclimates in the United States, visit the following web sites:

• North American Drought:  A Paleo Perspective, NOAA 

This web site explores paleoclimatic data and how it can provide information about past droughts.
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/drought/drght_home.html
• Climatologist's Toolbox, University of Wisconsin 

Learn how mud sediment in Walden Pond reveals evidence of its past environments by exploring this site..
http://whyfiles.org/021climate/journey.html

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Activity 3  --  How Do Earth's Orbital Variations Affect Climate?
 

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:

1.  The Earth's Axial Tilt and the Seasons
 
• Imagine the Universe- Ask a High Energy Astronomer, NASA 

Visit this site to learn how the Earth's tilt affects the seasons and the relationship between different angles of the Earth and seasons.
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/980211f.html
• The Seasons Explained, North Bay Astronomy Club 

This web site provides a graphic representation and summary of Earth's tilt in relationship to its seasons.
http://users.efni.com/~brentt/tourist/earth2.htm


2.  How Do Earth's Orbital Variations Affect Climate?
 

• Astronomical Theory of Climate Change  , NOAA

Learn how the Earth's not-so-circular orbit around the sun affects our climate by exploring this site.
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/milankovitch.html 
• Global Climate Change: Effect of the Earth's Orbit , 

The solar energy received by the earth is both cyclical and variable due to the changes in the earth's orbit and inclination.  Explore this site to find out more about these variations and their effect on global climates. 
http://www.dnr.state.mo.us/energy/cc/cc7.htm

3. Ellipticity
 
• Earth in Space, Department of Oceanography - Texas A&M University 

This web site provides a information on the Earth's orbit and the tilt of Earth's axis of rotation leading to an unequal distribution of heating and to the seasons.
http://www-ocean.tamu.edu/education/common/notes/chap4.html#4.1
 
4.  Obliquity
 
• Ask a High Energy Astronomer, NASA 

How does the earth's tilt affect the changing of the seasons and what different angles cause those different seasons? 
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/980211f.html  
• Milankovitch Cycles and Glaciation, Montana State University  

Learn about the connection between eccentricity, axial tilt, and precession in relation to past glaciations by visiting this site. 
http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~geol445/hyperglac/time1/milankov.htm

5. Precession

• Precession, NASA  

This article describes the development and background behind the idea of precession. 
http://www-istp.gsfc.nasa.gov/stargaze/Sprecess.htm  

• Precession, University of Oregon  

        Did you know that the north star can change as the Earth wobbles on its axis?  Visit this site to learn more.
        http://zebu.uoregon.edu/~imamura/121/oct6/precession.html
6. Milankovitch Cycles
 

• Introduction to Cyclicity - Milankovitch Cycles, University of British Columbia 

This site provides graphical representations of the dominant components within the Milankovitch Cycles.
http://www.science.ubc.ca/~geol256/notes/ch3_mila.html
• Milankovitch Cycles and Glaciation, Montana State University  

Learn about the connection between eccentricity, axial tilt, and precession in relation to past glaciations by exploring this web site.
http://www.homepage.montana.edu/~geol445/hyperglac/time1/milankov.htm

 
To complete the Inquiring Further section of this activity:

To learn more about sunspots and global climate, visit the following web sites:

• The Sun-Climate Connection (Did Sunspots Sink the Titanic?), NOAA 

This website explores the relationship between solar variability and climate change.
http://www.oar.noaa.gov/spotlite/archive/spot_sunclimate.html
• The Sun and Sunspots, NWS 

Visit this site to learn if the Earth's climate is effected by an increase or decrease in sunspot activity.
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fsd/astro/sunspots.htm


To learn more about Milutin Milankovitch, visit the following web site:

• On the Shoulder of Giants - Milutin Milankovitch, NASA 

Explore the history of Serbian astrophysicist, Milutin Milankovitch, and his theories of Earth
motions and long-term climate change by visiting this web site. 
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Library/Giants/Milankovitch/

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Activity 4  --  How Do Plate Tectonics and Ocean Currents Affect Global Climate?

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:
 
1.  How Ocean Currents Affect Regional Climates
• Bowditch -The American Practical Navigator 

Scroll to Page 6 (Section 3212) for information on ocean circulation's influence on regional climate.
www.irbs.com/bowditch/pdf/chapt32.pdf 
(NOTE:  Adobe Reader is needed to view this document.  Please click here or visit http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html to download the latest, FREE version.)
 
2.  How Ocean Currents Affect Global Climate
• The Southern Ocean and Global Climate, Australian Academy of Science

This web site provides information on the relationship between the Southern Ocean and the global climate.
http://www.science.org.au/nova/018/018key.htm
• The Ocean and Climate, Massachusett's Institute of Technology

The climate of our planet is greatly effected by Earth's oceans. Visit this university's web page to learn more about the role of the ocean in climate, climate variability, past climates and abrupt climate change.
http://geoid.mit.edu/climatemodel/ocean.htm 


3.  How Plate Tectonics Affects Global Climate

• Plate tectonics and the Evolution of Climate, Stanford University 

This web site offers a more-detailed look at the interaction of climate, life, and tectonics.
http://earth.agu.org/revgeophys/sleep00/sleep00.html
• Geodynamics and Ice Age Modules, Univ. of Minnesota  

Explore two web-based lab modules; one on ice ages and one on geodynamics. These modules are broken down into subthemes and  individual pages which include a variety of animations and graphics to assist in your understanding of the content.
http://piru.alexandria.ucsb.edu/collections/kirkby_morin/index.html

To complete the Inquiring Further section of this activity:

To learn more about the flow of North Atlantic Deep Water, visit the following web sites:
 

• North Atlantic Deep Water Summary, Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change  

Find out how deep water in North Atlantic affects our global climate, by clicking here. 
http://www.co2science.org/subject/n/summaries/nadw.htm
• Lamont's Broecker Warns Gases Could Alter Climate:  Oceans' Circulation Could Collapse 

This web site provides useful information on the importance of the NADW and its relationship to other systems.
http://www.columbia.edu/cu/record/23/11/13.html
• Ocean Circulation Shut Down by Melting Glaciers After Last Ice Age, NASA

At this site, NASA provides basic information on the North Atlantic Ocean Circulation System as well as the affect of the last ice age on this system. 
http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20011116meltwater.html

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Activity 5  --  How Do Carbon Dioxide Concentrations in the Atmosphere Affect Global Climate?

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:

1.  What are Greenhouse Gases?
• The Greenhouse Effect, Greenhouse Gases, and Global Warming, NASA

This site introduces the greenhouse effect and the gases contributing to it.
http://icp.giss.nasa.gov/research/methane/greenhouse.html
• Greenhouse Gases and Society, University of Michigan

Need a better understanding of the greenhouse effect?  Explore real-world applications and view visual aids at this site.
http://www.umich.edu/~gs265/society/greenhouse.htm
• Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States, The Energy Information Administration (EIA) 

View US emission data of greenhouse data from 1987 through 2000 by exploring this site.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/1605a.html

2.  The Carbon Cycle
• Carbon Cycle Science Breakthroughs. . . . at NOAA and Beyond, NOAA 

Here, NOAA provides useful graphics and text to introduce the carbon cycle and makes relevant the importance of understanding this cycle.
http://www.oar.noaa.gov/spotlite/spot_carbon.html
• Our Changing Planet - The Carbon Cycle (p.19), The FY 2002 US Global Change Research Program 

Read about President Bush's Initiative to researching and abating global warming.  This site features up-to-date data on the carbon and water cycles, atmospheric composition, ocean warming, and more.
http://www.gcrio.org/ocp2002/
(NOTE:  Adobe Reader is needed to view this document.  Please click here or visit http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html to download the latest, FREE version.)
• Introduction to Climate Change, Climate Ark 

Graphic representations and explanations of the carbon cycle are available at this website. http://www.climateark.org/vital/13.htm
• The Carbon Cycle: past and present, University of Colorado Geology 

This site uses illustrations and numbers to show the connections between the carbon cycle and the burning of fossil fuels. 
http://www.colorado.edu/GeolSci/courses/GEOL3520/Topic16/Topic16.html
• Understanding the Global Carbon Cycle - Woods Hole Research Center 

This site revieiws the basics of the global carbon cycle and how fossil fuels are linked to the cycle. 
http://www.whrc.org/science/carbon/carbon.htm
 
3.  Carbon Dioxide and Climate
• Carbon Dioxide Emissions of the United States 1999 , EIA 

This site provides information on CO2 emissions from US energy and industry in the last decade.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/carbon.html
• Introduction to Climate Change, Climate Ark 

Graphics and explanations of observed climate trends are available at this website.
http://www.climateark.org/vital/
 
• Temperature and CO2 concentration in the atmosphere over the past 400 000 years 

http://www.climateark.org/vital/02.htm
• CO2 Concentration in the atmosphere: Mauna Loa curve 

http://www.climateark.org/vital/06.htm
• Global atmospheric concentration of CO2 

http://www.climateark.org/vital/07.htm
• CO2 emissions from land use change  

http://www.climateark.org/vital/10.htm
• Emissions of CO2 - selected countries (1995) 

http://www.climateark.org/vital/11.htm
 


To complete the Inquiring Further section of this activity:

To learn more about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), visit the following web sites:
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 

Discover IPCC, and its mission, and member constituents by visiting this page.
http://www.ipcc.ch/about/about.htm
• IPCC Third Assessment Report: Climate Change 2001 

This document provides "a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the policy-relevant scientific, technical, and socioeconomic dimensions of climate change." 
http://www.ipcc.ch/pub/SYRspm.pdf
• Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis 

http://www.ipcc.ch/pub/spm22-01.pdf
• Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability 

http://www.ipcc.ch/pub/wg2SPMfinal.pdf
• Climate Change 2001: Mitigation 

http://www.ipcc.ch/pub/wg3spm.pdf


To learn more about the 1997 Earth Summit meeting in New York, visit the following web sites:

• Earth Summit +5, UN Department of Public Information 

This web site contains general information on the history of Earth Summit, the mission, and the key-players involved.
http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/sustdev/es&5broc.htm
• Obtain key information on the issues surrounding Earth Summit, recent press releases, and more. 

http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/sustdev/indexsd.htm

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Activity 6  --  How Might Global Warming Affect Your Community?

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:

  1.  Problems with Making Predictions

• Prediction: Science, Decision Making, and the Future of Nature, Columbia University

Learn about the uncertainty of predictions in real-world settings by visiting this web site.
http://www.islandpress.org/ecocompass/predictions.html
• Prediction in Earth Sciences: The Use and Misuse in Policy Making, Center for Science Policy and Outcomes

Explore these sites to learn how the scientific endeavor of prediction has changed in recent years, especially when earth science, technology, and politics merge.
http://www.esig.ucar.edu/prediction/report1/background.html
• July 1997 Workshop- Background

http://www.esig.ucar.edu/prediction/report1/background.html 
• Sept. 1998 Workshop- Prediction In Policy: A Process, Not A Product

http://www.esig.ucar.edu/prediction/report2/ex_summary.html

2.  Drawbacks to the Computer Models

• Global Climate Change: A better path forward, Exxon-Mobile

http://www2.exxonmobil.com/Files/Corporate/000406.pdf
 
• Energy and Environment Division Postdoc Puts Solar Technology to Work at Home, US Dept. of Energy

Explore reasons why solar-based technology is not isolated from problems associated with computer models by visiting this page.
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/solar-powered-home.html
• Global Warming: US Climate, EPA

How reliable are computer models for forecasting climate? Surf this site to learn more.
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/climate/future/usclimate.html 

3.  What Do the Computer Models Say?

• Global Warming: US Climate, EPA

To learn how computers lend insight into the future of Earth's temperatures and rates of precipitation, click here. 
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/climate/future/usclimate.html

• Changes in Precipitation

 
• Global Warming Impacts: Deserts , EPA

This site provides information on why scientists say deserts are likely to expand as a result of global warming. 
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/impacts/deserts/index.html
• Model Projected Climate Changes: 2050 , NOAA

View graphic projections of temperatures and precipitation for 1980 - 2050 by exploring this site.
http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/~kd/KDwebpages/discover.html
 
• Changes in Sea Level and Ocean Circulation

 
• National Close-up: Science Talk, Washington Post

Glacial melting effects many systems in and surrounding our oceans. Reporters address typical questions regarding these relationships at this web site.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/zforum/99/nation/sciencetalk022499.htm
• Computer Model Projections of 21st Century Sea Level Change, NOAA- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

This web site provides information on NOAA scientists' interpretations and predictions regarding sea level conditions in the 21st century.
http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/~kd/ClimateDynamics/OnePageC01.pdf
NOTE:  Adobe Reader is needed to view this document.  Please click here or visit http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html to download the latest, FREE version.)
 
• Changes in Agriculture

 
• Global Warming Impacts: Agriculture

This web site provides a comprehensive introduction to the effects of global warming on agriculture.
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/impacts/agriculture/index.html
• Factors impacting US agricultural resources 
• Potential effects on resources by climate change 
• Reasons to be concerned 
• How vulnerable is the US? 

 
To complete the Inquiring Further section of this activity:

To learn more about energy conservation, visit the following web sites:

• Global Warming and Energy, Greenpeace USA

The connection between global warming, fossil fuel consumption, and deforestation is explored in this web site.
http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/climate/energytext.htm
• Consumer Energy Information: Fact Sheets, EREN

In this site, the US Dept. of Energy offers ways to conserve energy in everyday life. 
http://www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo/factsheet.html
 
To learn more solar and wind power, visit the following web sites:
• Guided Tour of Wind Energy, Danish Wind Energy Association

If you want to know a little or a lot about wind energy, this site is for you.
http://www.windpower.dk/tour/index.htm
• About Solar Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

Explore this site to learn more about the variety of technologies that harness solar energy.
http://www.nrel.gov/clean_energy/solar.html
• The Basics of Wind Energy, National Renewable Energy Laboratory 

Learn the basics about wind energy here.
http://www.eren.doe.gov/RE/wind_basics.html
• Wind Energy Topics, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Obtain information on the basics of wind energy, as well as its use, research of wind energy, and recent technological advances in this field.
http://www.eren.doe.gov/RE/wind.html
• Wind Energy, Energy Educators of Ontario 

This site reviews the history of using wind as an energy resource, explains how wind turbine technology works and where it is applied, and also makes predictions about the future of wind-generated power. 
http://www.iclei.org/efacts/wind.htm
• Wind Energy FAQ/Technical Information - American Wind Energy Association 

This web page lists frequently asked questions about wind as an energy resource, including information about how to calculate the amount of power in the wind at a given wind speed, the basic types of wind turbines, the cost of wind power, and more. 
http://www.awea.org/faq/index.html
• Wind Energy in California,- California Energy Commission 

This site gives an overview of wind energy. Also visit the "Fast Facts" page, which gives wind facts in a table format. 
http://www.energy.ca.gov/wind/overview.html

To learn more about climate change and crops, visit the following web sites:

• Climate Change and World Food Supply, Cranfield University

Potential effects of climate change on crop yields, world food supply, and regions vulnerable to food deficits are examined in this article. 
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/rbmatthews/rbm_cc1.htm
• Zimbabwe: Climate Change Impacts on Maize Production and Adaptive Measures for the Agricultural Sector

In this article, global climate and dynamic crop growth models were used to assess the potential effects of climate change on Zimbabwe's agriculture, specifically maize, the nation's most widely grown crop.
http://www.gcrio.org/CSP/IR/IRzimbabwe.html

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Resources:

Web Sites:

• World Meteorological Organization

This is the official web site of the United Nation's Specialized Agency on Weather, Climate, Atmosphere, Water.
http://www.wmo.ch/indexflash.html
• National Weather Service 

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/
• National Climatic Data Center home page 

http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/ncdc.html
• Datastreme Project, American Meteorological Society 

http://www.ametsoc.org/dstreme/ 
• Climate Change Outreach Material, EPA 

http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/outreach/
• Educational Outreach - Paleoclimatology Science Primer, NOAA 

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/primer.html 
• Resources: Climate change science, USAToday.com

http://www.usatoday.com/news/healthscience/science/climate/rresources-cli-change.htm
• Global Climate Change News, USAToday.com

http://www.usatoday.com/news/healthscience/science/climate/climate-change-news-index.htm
• Greenland Summit Ice Cores CD-ROM, NOAA 

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/icecore/greenland/summit/index.html 
• Annual Energy Outlook 2002 with Projections to 2020, Energy Information Administration

This site explores the key issues for our nation's future in energy, including economic growth, energy prices, consumption, intensity, electricity generation, as well as energy production and imports.
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/ 
• Department of Energy home page 

http://www.energy.gov/
• Energy Information Administration home page 

http://eia.doe.gov/
• Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN) home page 

http://www.eren.doe.gov/ 
• United States Geological Survey (USGS) home page 

http://www.usgs.gov/
• USGS Energy Resources home page 

http://energy.usgs.gov/
• USGS Energy Resources Energy-Related Publications, Products, and Data 

http://energy.usgs.gov/pubs.html
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory home page 

http://www.nrel.gov/
• Department of Energy Fossil Energy page 

http://www.fe.doe.gov/
• American Geophysical Union (AGU) Science for Everyone 

http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/everyone.html
• International Solar Energy Society (ISES) home page 

http://www.ises.org/ises.nsf?Open
• American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) home page 

http://www.awea.org/
• Energy Education Resources: Kindergarten through 12th Grade, EIA - DOE 

http://www.eia.doe.gov/bookshelf/eer/kiddietoc.html#table
 

Maps:

• Geologic maps: State and local: 
• The United States Geological Survey National Geologic Map Database contains information on how and where to obtain geologic maps. (http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/) 
• Your state Geological Survey - find your state survey on-line at Association of American State Geologists (http://www.kgs.ukans.edu/AASG/AASG.html). 
• Download state geologic maps at About.com's site.  (http://geology.about.com/science/geology/cs/geomapsusstates/) 
• Reading Geologic Maps - informative review on how to read and interpret geologic maps.  (http://geology.about.com/science/geology/library/weekly/aa100800a.htm) 

 
• Geologic maps: Regional (two or more states): 
• The on-line bookstore of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists (http://bookstore.AAPG.org; 918-584-2555) 
• Topographic maps: Local 
• The United States Geological Survey MapFinder allows you to order 7.5 minute maps online for $4 per map plus $5 s/h per order. (http://edc.usgs.gov/Webglis/glisbin/finder_main.pl?dataset_name=MAPS_LARGE) 
• The United States Geological Survey maintains a list of Map Dealers.  Click on your state to obtain a list of retailers who sell maps. (http://mapping.usgs.gov/esic/map_dealers/) 
• The United States Geological Survey National Geologic Map Database site on How to find topographic maps (http://ngmsvr.wr.usgs.gov/Other_Resources/rdb_topo.html) 
• TopoZone site allows you to download topographic maps (including USGS maps) for free, at various scales (from 1:100,000 to 1:24,000).  (http://www.topozone.com/) 
• MapServer offers free online viewing of topo, nautical and aeronautical charts plus high altitude digital ortho quads (nav photos). (www.maptech.com and www.mapserver.maptech.com) 
• General Map Resources: 
• An excellent list of map resources available online can be found on the Central Michigan University Resources for Earth Science and Geography Instruction web site.  Included are links to sites to make maps, as well as links to free downloadable outline maps, satellite imagery, GPS, and GIS databases. (http://personal.cmich.edu/~franc1m/locamap.htm) 
• "Maps" - USGS Earth Science Information Center, includes general map information, from how to read maps to how to obtain them.  Also includes links to further information regarding topographic, thematic, planetary maps, and more. (http://ask.usgs.gov/maps.html) 
• National Geographic (maps and videos): 1-800-962-1643 (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps/index.html) 
• "Maps of the United States" - USGS fact sheet, contains a series of depictions of the United States, along with information on how to obtain additional US maps. (http://www.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/maps-us/index.html) 
• "Maps of the World" - USGS fact sheet, contains a series of world maps, including outline maps, seismicity maps, and political maps.  Also contains information for ordering more specific world maps. (http://www.usgs.gov/fact-sheets/maps-world/maps-world.html) 
• "National Atlas Maps" - USGS site of a variety of US maps that are available online, including shaded relief maps, aquifer maps, and further information on how to order maps not available online.  (http://www-atlas.usgs.gov/atlasmap.html?) 

Videos:

• Scientific Visualization Guide, NOAA- Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory 

This site contains several visualizations (i.e., animations, powerpoint presentations, downloadable graphics, etc.) which have been prepared based on GFDL's research.
http://www.gfdl.noaa.gov/~jps/GFDL_VG_Gallery.html
• Bullfrog Films: Energy Videos (list of about 40 videos that cover energy-related topics, ranging from energy conservation, environmental issues associated with energy use, different energy resources (solar, wind, nuclear, etc.), and more. 

PicoTurbine: Solar Power, Windmill, and Renewable Energy videos

Books:

• National Research Council. Global Environmental Change: Research Pathways for the Next Decade. National Academy Press, 1999. 

http://www.nap.edu/books/0309064201/html/

Magazines:

• Science, Causes of Climate Change Over the Past 1000 Years. Thomas J. Crowley. July 14, 2000, Volume 289: 270-277. 
• Scientific American. The Coming Climate, Meteorological records and computer models permit insights into some of the broad weather patterns of a warmer world. Karl, Nicholls, and Gregory. May 1997. 
• Geotimes.  Published by the American Geological Institute, this magazine reviews current issues in the Earth Sciences and can serve as a valuable supplemental resource for teachers and students alike.  Visit the web site for online articles and information about obtaining a one-year subscription (40% discount for AGI Member Society members; 65% discount for students). 

(http://www.geotimes.org/current/)
• Excellent sources of high-school level articles are in both National Geographic (which often has maps), and Science News 

(describing the most recent and interesting events in scientific research.)