Climate Resources

Fact Sheets

Historical Overview of Climate Change Science

• What Factors Determine Earth's Climate? 363Kb
• What is the Relationship between Climate Change and Weather? 473Kb
• What is the Greenhouse Effect? 1.85Mb

Changes in Atmospheric Constituents and in Radiative Forcing

• How do Human Activities Contribute to Climate Change and How do They Compare with Natural Influences? 260Kb

Observations: Surface and Atmospheric Climate Change

• How are Temperatures on Earth Changing? 3.37Mb
• How is Precipitation Changing? 283Kb
• Has there been a Change in Extreme Events like Heat Waves, Droughts, Floods and Hurricanes? 366Kb

Observations: Changes in Snow, Ice and Frozen Ground

• Is the Amount of Snow and Ice on the Earth Decreasing? 209Kb

Observations: Oceanic Climate Change and Sea Level

• Is Sea Level Rising? 117Kb

Palaeoclimate

• What Caused the Ice Ages and Other Important Climate Changes Before the Industrial Era? 248Kb
• Is the Current Climate Change Unusual Compared to Earlier Changes in Earth's History? 64Kb

Couplings Between Changes in the Climate System and Biogeochemistry

• Are the Increases in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and Other Greenhouse Gases During the Industrial Era Caused by Human Activities? 354Kb

(top)

Climate Models and their Evaluation

• How Reliable Are the Models Used to Make Projections of Future Climate Change? 151Kb

Understanding and Attributing Climate Change

• Can Individual Extreme Events be Explained by Greenhouse Warming? 112Kb
• Can the Warming of the 20th Century be Explained by Natural Variability? 525Kb

Global Climate Projections

• Are Extreme Events, Like Heat Waves, Droughts or Floods, Expected to Change as the Earth's Climate Changes? 61Kb
• How Likely are Major or Abrupt Climate Changes, such as Loss of Ice Sheets or Changes in Global Ocean Circulation? 68Kb
• If Emissions of Greenhouse Gases are Reduced, How Quickly do Their Concentrations in the Atmosphere Decrease? 159Kb

Regional Climate Projections

• Do Projected Changes in Climate Vary from Region to Region? 228Kb

Lesson Plans

• Is it getting Hot in Here
• Are You Getting Thirsty
• Earth's Energy Budget
• Caution: Do Not Bleach!
• Who Has the Data
• The Stinging Sea
• Do You Want to Risk It?
• Images of Katrina

Climate Change Educator Conference

On July 23, 24 2008, classroom educators attended an inter-agency conference on climate change to investigate the basic science behind our understanding of climate change and global impacts. The conference drew upon the latest science to present the story of our changing climate and included presentations by prominent scientists, hands-on activities, and current ideas for facing our climate challenge and creating a healthier planet. The conference presentation materials and videos are provided along with links to resources and programs about climate change education.

Archived Videos

Archived videos of the climate change educator conference general session speakers are now online at:

http://www.sallyridescience.com/for_educators/conferences/climate/live

Presentations and materials are posted at:

http://www.sallyridescience.com/conferences/occr