MedDiet4Health
Definition and Historical Context
Dear students,
you will work based on the webquest to differentiate between short-term weather patterns and long-term climate trends, investigate local climate characteristics and ponder how these align with global Climate Change phenomena.
Compare weather and Climate
As you probably already know, the difference between weather and climate is a matter of time. Weather refers to short-term conditions of the atmosphere at a specific place and time. Climate is the average weather conditions over a prolonged period (usually 30 years or more) in a specific area. It provides insight into the typical weather patterns one can anticipate in a particular location across different seasons.
Useful links and video:
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2021/04/Weather_versus_climate_at_a_glance
Local Climate Analysis
Interview an older family member about how they remember the climate in the same location when they were young, and discuss any observed changes over time in terms of temperature, precipitation, seasonal patterns or extreme weather events.
Make a post in the following lino.it:
http://linoit.com/users/meddiet4health/canvases/Local%20Climate%20Analysis
Introducing the concept of Climate Change
Earth’s climate has always undergone natural changes, but scientists have noted recent unusual trends. For instance, the average global temperature has risen rapidly in the last 150 years. Global climate change encompasses long-term shifts across Earth, including warming temperatures, altered precipitation patterns and associated impacts such as:
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Rising sea levels
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Retreating mountain glaciers
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Accelerated ice melting in Greenland, Antarctica, and the Arctic
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Changes in flowering and plant growth cycles
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1-According to NASA there is long term warming trend in the Earth’s surface. Watch the following video:
2. Use the following website to discover what type of climate is projected for your city in 2080. https://fitzlab.shinyapps.io/cityapp/ Reflect on the question ‘Do the long-term trends in climate change align or contrast with what you have observed about the climate in your local area?’ in the following Tricider discussion:
Natural vs. Anthropogenic Climate Change
Dear students,
By the end of this WebQuest you will:
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Differentiate Natural vs. Anthropogenic Climate Change.
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Conduct online research to gather evidence for both natural and human causes of climate change.
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Work in teams to create Google Slides presentations supporting your climate change position.
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Debate and defend your viewpoints, critically evaluating opposing arguments to deepen understanding of global issues.
Understanding the Greenhouse Effect
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Climate change refers to any long-term or permanent alteration in the Earth's climate. It results from two sources: natural climate change, which consists of the natural climate cycles that have always occurred throughout Earth's history and anthropogenic climate change, which is caused by human activities.
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The Greenhouse Effect, a term used by scientist is at the core of Climate Change. Earth's temperature is controlled by the balance of energy entering and leaving its system. When sunlight hits the Earth's surface, it can either be reflected back into space or absorbed. The absorbed energy heats the planet and this energy is then emitted back into the atmosphere as heat (infrared radiation). Conversely, the sunlight that is reflected back into space does not contribute to the Earth's warming.
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Certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapour, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, ozone) absorb energy, which slows down or prevents heat from escaping into space. These gases, called "greenhouse gases," function like a blanket, warming the Earth more than it would be otherwise. This natural and essential process, known as the "greenhouse effect," supports life on our planet. However, the recent increase in greenhouse gases due to human activities has altered the Earth's climate, leading to harmful impacts on human health, well-being, and ecosystems.
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Take a look on this photo: