Students explore positive feedback effects of changing albedo from melting Arctic sea ice.
Educational Resources - Search Tool
Students analyze a graph that illustrates the change in global surface temperature relative to 1951-1980 average temperatures.
Students watch a video introducing the concept of albedo and answer questions.
Earth is a system of systems.
Students watch a video explaining albedo and its impact on Earth. The video shows visualizations of albedo across Earth and how it can change. Students will interpret the images in the video and answer questions about albedo.
Dr. Norman Loeb, an atmospheric scientist at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, is the principal investigator for an experiment called the Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES). CERES instruments measure how much of the sun’s energy is reflected back to space and how much thermal energy is emitted by Earth to space.
Students will make a claim about whether changing albedo contributes to changes in Arctic habitats.
Background on changing albedo values.
Guided by the 5E model, this lesson allows students to work together to uncover how changes in sea ice extent in the Arctic and Antarctic regions are connected to Earth’s energy budget.
The Earth System Satellite Images, along with the Data Literacy Cubes, helps the learner identify patterns in a specific image.