ECC 1.3

ECC 1.3 Exploring Energy in the Earth System 
Objective: KWBAT use the Sim to model why Earth’s ice is decreasing.

Part 1: Warm Up

Welcome back student climatologists! Yesterday, you analyzed graphs and confirmed that ice on Earth is decreasing, while temperature is increasing!  But what could be causing ice to melt and temperatures to increase on Earth?  Today we will explore the new Earth’s Changing Climate Simulation, a tool you will use starting today and for the rest of this unit to investigate the relationships between our atmosphere, energy within the Earth system and temperature! When we refer to the Earth system, we mean Earth's atmosphere.

Imagine it snowed late last night, and as you leave to walk to school in the morning, a large pile of snow has been shoveled right up against the doorstep. Hours later when you return from school the huge pile is almost entirely melted.

0

What causes snow to melt during the day?

0

What does energy have to do with ice melting?

1

Where did the energy come from that melted the ice?

1

What must have happened to the temperature of this area?

Part 2: Investigating The New Earth's Changing Climate Simulation

Next, open the ECC Simulation and explore for yourself for a couple of minutes!
Reset the Sim and decide what you want to try and change first to make ice melt THE FOCUS IS ON GASSES!!!
Change one thing at a time and click play to test each variable until you reach your goal!
Record your answers to the follow-up questions using specific details from your trial.

0

How did you make the ice melt? What did you change?

Use specific names of gasses and how much you used.

I changed....

Example:
Water Vapor, 400ppm

1

How did the energy absorbed by the Earth’s surface change when you made the ice melt?

(Hint: What did the amount of absorbed energy do to the ice?)

0

How did the global average temperature change when you made the ice melt?

Did it increase, decrease, or stay the same?

1

Synthesize. Based on this SIM investigation, what do you think is causing ice to melt and temperatures to increase on Earth?

Hint: Yellow Glow
Use words: temperature, energy, absorb
Include a screenshot of what causes ice to melt.

Part 3: Evaluating Claims about Rising Temperatures 

All scientists, including climate scientists, constantly make and evaluate claims as new evidence comes along. When scientists find new evidence to support their claims, it makes their arguments stronger. 

However scientists sometimes need to discard their claims when data is not reliable or data refutes the claim.

Read the claim below about why some people think Earth’s temperature is rising.

More hot things on Earth's surface such as factories, car engines, and fires are causing the entire planet and its atmosphere to heat up.

0

Why might people believe this claim when they first see it?

0

What does this image tell you?

0

What does this image tell you?

0

Based on the evidence presented in these two cards, why can scientists now reject this claim?

Part 4: Exit Ticket

2

Based on the sim, which gas(es) seem to increase global temperatures?

0

How do you know those gas(es) actually increase global temperatures?

Screenshots are acceptable.

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Other Classwork

ECC 1.3 Exploring Energy in the Earth System

Part 1: Warm Up

What causes snow to melt during the day?

What does energy have to do with ice melting?

Where did the energy come from that melted the ice?

What must have happened to the temperature of this area?

Part 2: Investigating The New Earth's Changing Climate Simulation

What are the three parts of Earth's system that we will investigate?

Where does the energy come from?

What do you think the yellow glow on the surface represents?

The value that all components of the sim will be set at.

How did you make the ice melt? What did you change?

Use specific names of gasses and how much you used.

I changed....

Example:
Water Vapor, 400ppm

How did the energy absorbed by the Earth’s surface change when you made the ice melt?

(Hint: What did the amount of absorbed energy do to the ice?)

How did the global average temperature change when you made the ice melt?

Did it increase, decrease, or stay the same?

Synthesize. Based on this SIM investigation, what do you think is causing ice to melt and temperatures to increase on Earth?

Hint: Yellow Glow
Use words: temperature, energy, absorb
Include a screenshot of what causes ice to melt.

Include a screenshot of what causes ice to melt.

Part 3: Evaluating Claims about Rising Temperatures

More hot things on Earth's surface such as factories, car engines, and fires are causing the entire planet and its atmosphere to heat up.

Why might people believe this claim when they first see it?

What does this image tell you?

What does this image tell you?

Based on the evidence presented in these two cards, why can scientists now reject this claim?

Part 4: Exit Ticket

Based on the sim, which gas(es) seem to increase global temperatures?

How do you know those gas(es) actually increase global temperatures?

Screenshots are acceptable.

ECC 1.3

ECC 1.3 Exploring Energy in the Earth System

Part 1: Warm Up

What causes snow to melt during the day?

What does energy have to do with ice melting?

Where did the energy come from that melted the ice?

What must have happened to the temperature of this area?

Part 2: Investigating The New Earth's Changing Climate Simulation

What are the three parts of Earth's system that we will investigate?

Where does the energy come from?

What do you think the yellow glow on the surface represents?

The value that all components of the sim will be set at.

How did you make the ice melt? What did you change?Use specific names of gasses and how much you used.I changed....Example:Water Vapor, 400ppm

How did the energy absorbed by the Earth’s surface change when you made the ice melt? (Hint: What did the amount of absorbed energy do to the ice?)

How did the global average temperature change when you made the ice melt?Did it increase, decrease, or stay the same?

Synthesize. Based on this SIM investigation, what do you think is causing ice to melt and temperatures to increase on Earth? Hint: Yellow GlowUse words: temperature, energy, absorbInclude a screenshot of what causes ice to melt.

Include a screenshot of what causes ice to melt.

Part 3: Evaluating Claims about Rising Temperatures

More hot things on Earth's surface such as factories, car engines, and fires are causing the entire planet and its atmosphere to heat up.

Why might people believe this claim when they first see it?

What does this image tell you?

What does this image tell you?

Based on the evidence presented in these two cards, why can scientists now reject this claim?

Part 4: Exit Ticket

Based on the sim, which gas(es) seem to increase global temperatures?

How do you know those gas(es) actually increase global temperatures?Screenshots are acceptable.

How did you make the ice melt? What did you change?

Use specific names of gasses and how much you used.

I changed....

Example:
Water Vapor, 400ppm

How did the energy absorbed by the Earth’s surface change when you made the ice melt?

(Hint: What did the amount of absorbed energy do to the ice?)

How did the global average temperature change when you made the ice melt?

Did it increase, decrease, or stay the same?

Synthesize. Based on this SIM investigation, what do you think is causing ice to melt and temperatures to increase on Earth?

Hint: Yellow Glow
Use words: temperature, energy, absorb
Include a screenshot of what causes ice to melt.

How do you know those gas(es) actually increase global temperatures?

Screenshots are acceptable.