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The Earth has cycled through many phases of warming and cooling over the billions of years of its history due to the greenhouse effect. There are many natural factors that contribute to the greenhouse effect, but most of these occur very slowly over many millennia. Temperature is increasing faster than ever on a global scale that cannot be explained by these natural processes. It is now clear that humans are responsible. But you can help change this. Find out how you can help.
1. Fossil Fuel 2. Deforestation 3. Failing Sinks 2. Methane from: 1. Cattle and Rice Paddies 2. the Artic Tundra 3. Clathrates 3. Nitrogen Oxides from Farming 4. Other Gases
the methane is released. If the current global warming, which is caused by humans, were to cause changes in the Earths ocean currents, then a rapid melting of clathrates would be possible. This too would create a positive feedback loop that would cause further global warming. It is believed that some of the warming cycles in the Earths history have been caused by the sudden thawing of clathrates.[6]
A Growing Problem
The green revolution of the twentieth century has allowed the farmers of the world to use chemical fertilizers and machines to produce far more food than they ever did before. One of the primary components of the green revolution has been the development of nitrogen fertilizers that dramatically accelerate the growth and productivity of plants in the field. Plants fix, or capture, nitrogen on their own as well, but green revolution technologies have become so popular that humans are now adding more nitrogen to the earth than all of the plants in the world combined![7] Nitrogen oxides have 300 times more heat-trapping capacity per unit of volume than does carbon dioxide, and we release them every time we apply fertilizer to soil. A recent United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization study found that modern farming is contributing more to global warming than all of the transportation sector combined![8] This is due partly to the fuel burned in modern farming, but more significantly, to the release of methane and nitrogen oxides.
In the rectangle above, you will find the fundamental concepts and principles that underlie this standard. Below you will find a list of recommended "learning tools" for this standard. Just click the links within the descriptions. Numbers are for reference only. Use our "Tell a Friend" feature, at the bottom, to send this page to a friend!
Planet Protectors is a learning tool provided by EcoKids in Canada. Students must reduce the amount of carbon dioxide being put into the atmosphere by people by picking all the right CO2 fighters for each polluter. Students learn more about the Greenhouse Effect, sources of pollution, and what can be done to help. Power Up! is a learning tool brought to us by Science NetLinks. Students are provided with a specific monetary budget, which they can use to purchase power plants for their city. As students choose their types of power, they will learn how much power the plant provides, how much it costs, and the effect it could have on the environment. Just click the link under "Power Up!". Mexican Rainforest is a learning tool in which students create development strategies for sustainable growth with both economic and environmental interests in mind. Some of the different factors they must consider include species loss, hectares, profitability, eco-tourism, political legislation, land trust, and the possibility of political protests. This learning tool is provided by MSNBC. This "learning tool" is called Water Pollution. One of the most innovative science education companies is Explorelearning.com, they call their simulations, Gizmos. They are a subscription site , but they allow you to see this Gizmo for 5 minutes. Shockwave is required. Tech Note: Click your browser refresh button if you get an error message after loading. Wildfire Simulator shows how conditions such as wind speed and direction can affect a fire's spread and shows how firefighters use fire lines and backfires to control a wild land fire. This learning tool comes to us from NOVA, a leader in science television programming.
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In Disease Spread, students observe the spread of disease through a population of people. One of the most innovative science education companies is Explorelearning.com. They call their simulations Gizmos. They are a subscription site, but they allow you to see this Gizmo for 5 minutes. Shockwave is required. This "learning tool" is called Climate Change: The Burning Issue. Developed by the Science Museum of London, this interactive lesson examines the multifaceted problem of climate change in clever and imaginative ways.
Household Energy Use is a learning tool that comes to us from one of the most innovative science education companies, Explorelearning.com. They call their simulations Gizmos. They are a subscription site, but they allow you to see this Gizmo for 5 minutes. Shockwave is required.
In Rate Tornado Damage, students use the Fujita scale (or F-scale) to examine and rate the destruction caused by several recent tornadoes. Actual photographs of damage are used. This learning tool is brought to us by NOVA.