Climate Resources
Fact Sheets
These Fact Sheets are the Frequently Asked Questions from the report accepted by Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC, 2007: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
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
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
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
Climate Models and their Evaluation
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
Lesson Plans
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:
Case Studies
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency partnered with NOAA and six other federal agencies to develop the Climate Change, Wildlife and Wildlands Toolkit for Formal and Informal Educators. The purpose is for classroom teachers and informal educators in parks, refuges, forest lands, nature centers, zoos, aquariums, science centers, etc., to teach middle school students about how climate change is affecting our nation's wildlife and public lands and how everyone, even students, can become “climate stewards”.
Topics in the case studies include regional impacts of climate change, “Spotlight on Species” on public lands that are being affected by climate change, and strategies being employed by “Climate Stewards” in each region who are helping ecosystems adapt to a changing world.
Western Forests and Mountains
Case Study 548Kb
Student Activity:
Eastern Forests and Woodlands
Case Study 514Kb
Student Activities:
- Impact of Climate Change on Bees in Eastern Forests: Pollination in Action 95Kb
- Impact of Climate Change on Bees in the Eastern Forest: Diversity and Adaptations of Organisms 101Kb
Eastern Coastline
Case Study 521Kb
Student Activity:
Carribbean Islands
Case Study 552Kb
Student Activities:
Polar/Subpolar (Alaska)
Case Study 514Kb
Student Activity:
Gulf Coast
Case Study 860Kb
Student Activities:
Western Coastline
Case Study 781Kb
Student Activity:
Pacific Islands
Case Study 837Kb
Student Activities:
- Impact of Climate Change on Hawaiian Monk Seals: Mapping Deep-Sea Habits 81Kb
- Impact of Climate Change on Hawaiian Monk Seals: The Odd Couple 122Kb
- Impact of Climate Change on Hawaiian Monk Seals: Seals, Corals and Dollars 75Kb
Great Lakes
Case Study 798Kb
Student Activities:
Desert Arid Southwest
Case Study 822Kb
Student Activity:
Prairie Grasslands
Case Study 837Kb
Student Activities: