What Do Warmer Waters Mean for Life Below the Waves?

Positives

• The hosts speak with many experts in the field of ocean research and conservation.
• The podcast ends on a hopeful note, reminding us that if we act now, it is not too late to prevent some of the worst outcomes for our oceans.

Additional Prerequisites

• The ocean-related content ends at 22 minutes, 52 seconds and the remaining segment is about two recent news stories related to climate change.
• It ends with an ad for another BBC podcast.

Differentiation

• If students live in a community near the coast, they can research how their local ocean ecosystems are impacted by climate change and if there are any conservation efforts underway.
• Cross-curricular connections can be made with economics classes by focusing on the impact of warming oceans on the fishing industry or the communities that rely on fishing and eco-tourism.
• Civics classes can explore the role of governments and international agreements in protecting the vast areas of open ocean.
• Additionally, connections can be made with chemistry classes by investigating ocean acidification, why oceans absorb carbon and heat, and why warmer water holds less oxygen.
• Other related resources include this video about ocean acidification, NASA data about rising ocean temperatures, this lesson plan about coral reefs, and this article about ocean migration.