Feedback Loops - Atmosphere
Provided by: Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops|Published on: June 14, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Bonnie Waltch, Susan Gray
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video from Climate Emergency: Feedback Loops outlines two feedback loops related to the effects of global warming on moisture in the atmosphere and changes in the jet streams.
- It uses graphics, maps, interviews, and video footage to explain the connections between changing weather patterns and global warming, and provides information about solutions that will help fight climate change.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The narration is slow and easy to understand.
- Three credible experts are featured in the video: Jennifer Francis, Warren Washington, and Kerry Emanuel.
Prerequisites
- Teaching about feedback loops can be emotionally challenging for teachers and students. Before engaging in this topic, it may be best to check in with students' emotions. Let your students know that all emotions are acceptable and normal to feel.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Understanding the concept of feedback loops can be tricky. During or after the video, you can have students turn and talk to explain these two feedback loops to each other.
- Students can copy the feedback loop diagrams into a notebook. You can pause the video at 3:07 and 7:40 for students to see the two feedback loop diagrams. Students can also add pictures to their diagrams to improve comprehension.
- For a comprehensive explainer on Earth's atmosphere, students can watch Essentials of Environmental Science: Understanding the Atmosphere.
When fossil fuel emissions spew into the atmosphere, it increases the CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and causes extreme weather events. It is time to act to re-green the planet and incentivize ways to limit heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere to cool the Earth. This is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
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.
Learn about our review process →
