Climate Contributions

Provided by: King's Centre for Visualization in Science |Published on: April 27, 2021

Data, Graphs, and Maps

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Synopsis

In this interactive graph, students choose different factors that have historically contributed to climate change and observe how the factors impact changes in average global temperature.
Students will learn how solar radiation, volcanic activity, aerosols, land use, ozone, and other greenhouse gases have impacted the average global temperature, according to historical simulations.

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Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences

Authors: King's Center for Visualization in Science

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

Students can spend time experimenting with changing and combining factors on the graph to observe how they caused changes in global average temperature.

Additional Prerequisites

Students should be familiar with greenhouse gases, aerosols, land use change, carbon sinks, solar radiation, volcanic activity, and ozone.
The graph shows the temperature change in Celsius.

Differentiation

Students could discuss why the graph includes the horizontal line representing the global average temperature for the pre-industrial period of 1850-1859.
Earth science classes could reflect on the following questions:
- Why do some factors have both cooling and heating effects?
- According to the graph, deforestation has a net cooling effect. Does this mean that cutting down forests will help to solve climate change? Why or why not?
- Aerosols can have a net cooling or a net warming effect. What do you know about the net cooling effects of certain aerosols? Could there be any negative ramifications to net cooling aerosols?
- Which of the factors on the graph are within human control? Which factors do humans have little or no control over?

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About the Partner Provider

King's Centre for Visualization in Science

The King's Centre for Visualization in Science is a research center committed to improving the global public understanding of science through research and the creation and dissemination of peer-reviewed interactive electronic learning tools to see and understand science.

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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Climate Contributions

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

About the Partner Provider

Scientist Reviewed

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