Polar ice samples provide scientists with valuable information about the condition of the atmosphere for hundreds of thousands of years in the past. Of particular interest is the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and its relationship to global warming. In this case study, learners graph real data from actual ice cores and compare it to temperature changes. One of the videos mentioned does not seem to be available, but this does not diminish the value of the lesson.

Concepts

global warming, climate change, human impact on the environment, environmental stewardship, the atmosphere

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Additional Tags

climate change, atmosphere, global warming, human impact on the environment, science

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Pros

• Produced by the US Environmental Protection Agency
• Uses real-world data to demonstrate the connection between carbon dioxide levels and atmospheric temperatures
• Provides graphing practice
• A strong support for Next Generation Science Standard MS-LS3-5

Cons

• None