This video discusses recent changes to the Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica, the influence of Antarctic ice on the global sea level, and what will happen to coastal communities worldwide if the sea level continues to rise.
Students will learn that the Thwaites Glacier is collapsing at an alarming rate, most of the world's ice comes from Antarctica, the global sea level rises as Antarctic ice melts, and flooding will become a bigger problem for coastal communities if sea level rise continues.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This video is well-produced and filled with animations that illustrate the concepts for students.
This video does an excellent job of showcasing the Thwaites Glacier's size.
Additional Prerequisites
It may be helpful if students know where greenhouse gas emissions come from and how they contribute to global warming and glacial melt.
An advertisement may play before the video starts.
Students should know the terms glacier and bedrock.
Differentiation
After watching this video, students can consider ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
To assess prior knowledge, the teacher can ask the class questions about the Antarctic ice sheet before watching the video.
Students can predict and discuss coastal migration patterns that may occur if sea level rise continues and the socioeconomic impacts of this displacement.
This video can enhance a classroom discussion about the socioeconomic impacts of coastal flooding.
Scientist Notes
About 40% of the world's population lives within 100km of the coasts, putting billions of people at risk for displacement due to rising sea levels. The Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica is collapsing, and the video explains why.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS2: Earth's Systems
HS-ESS2-2 Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-1 Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
HS-LS2-7 Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Geography
D2.Geo.12.9-12 Evaluate the consequences of human-made and natural catastrophes on global trade, politics, and human migration.
D2.Geo.9.9-12 Evaluate the influence of long-term climate variability on human migration and settlement patterns, resource use, and land uses at local-to-global scales.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Speaking & Listening (K-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.9-10.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.3 Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
