Based on the rate of melting observed from 2003-2007 in Greenland, it would take less than 10 minutes to fill the Dallas Cowboys' Stadium. The 17th lesson in a series of 21 has scholars use the ICESat data to understand the ice mass melting and weather changes in Greenland, estimate future ice mass changes based on the climate patterns, and determine the level of sea rise on the Chesapeake Bay based on the data.

Concepts

sea level, climate change, thermal expansion, glaciers, wetland ecosystems, topography

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Use the ICESat data to update the graphs to the present day
• Graph the sea level rise and the predicted pace it will continue rising

Classroom Considerations

• Requires prior knowledge of sea level, ice sheets, sea ice versus land ice, and NASA's ICESat

Pros

• Designed for the National Science Education Standards, National Education Technology Standards, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Education Standards, Climate Literacy Principles, and Energy Literacy Principles
• Uses real data rather than sample or created data sets
• Provides a long list of links for the prerequisites, vocabulary, lesson links, student resources, and further learning

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.9-10.3 RST.9-10.4 RST.9-10.7 RST.9-10.9 RST.11-12.3 RST.11-12.4 RST.11-12.7 RST.11-12.9