What Will Earth Look Like When These 6 Tipping Points Hit?

Provided by: PBS |Published on: October 18, 2022

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Synopsis

This resource from PBS highlights six tipping points in the Earth's climate system, focusing on models showing the extreme ways the Earth could change with just a bit more warming.
Students will learn about the Greenland ice sheet, AMOC, monsoons, the Amazon Rainforest, Antarctic ice sheets, permafrost, and coral reefs and will see how the Earth would fundamentally change if we crossed multiple tipping points.

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Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Geography

Authors: PBS

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

This resource organizes the tipping points into sections to help with comprehension.
This video ends on a hopeful note, providing an idea for mitigating the impacts of tipping points.

Prerequisites

This video contains two ads and promotional material at the end.
Since tipping points can be an emotional and difficult topic to discuss, prepare ways to help students talk about their feelings, including ideas for how they can take personal action.

Differentiation & Implementation

Provide students with a graphic organizer to help students take organized notes on each of the tipping points addressed.
In order to further understand the direct threats posed to coral reefs, have students watch this other video and discuss in groups what bold action is necessary to save the coral reefs.
To provide background knowledge on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (incorrectly referred to as the "International" Panel on Climate Change in the video), have students read this graphic novel and then discuss how we can be so sure about what we know about climate change.
To extend learning about tipping points, have students watch this animated video about mathematical tipping points.
Consider having students listen to this podcast that addresses tipping points and what younger generations can do to fight climate change, and then work in groups to plan ways to take personal action and action within their own communities.

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Teaching Tips

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Resource Type and Format

Scientist Reviewed

This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.

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What Will Earth Look Like When These 6 Tipping Points Hit?

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

Scientist Reviewed

Related Teaching Resources