Module: Rising Carbon Dioxide Concentrations
DCI: ESS2.D (C) Changes in the atmosphere due to human activity
have increased carbon dioxide concentrations and thus affect climate.
PE: HS-ESS2-4 Use a model to describe how variations in the flow of
energy into and out of Earth’s systems result in changes in climate.
[Clarification
Statement: Examples of the causes of climate change differ by timescale, over
1-10 years: large volcanic eruption, ocean circulation; 10-100s of years:
changes in human activity, ocean circulation, solar output; 10-100s of
thousands of years: changes to Earth's orbit and the orientation of its axis;
and 10-100s of millions of years: long-term changes in atmospheric
composition.] [Assessment Boundary: Assessment of the results of changes in
climate is limited to changes in surface temperatures, precipitation patterns,
glacial ice volumes, sea levels, and biosphere distribution.]
PE: HS-ESS2-6 Develop a quantitative model to describe the cycling
of carbon among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere.
[Clarification
Statement: Emphasis is on modeling biogeochemical cycles that include the
cycling of carbon through the ocean, atmosphere, soil, and biosphere (including
humans), providing the foundation for living organisms.]
The ideas are:
- human activity has increased the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
- increased carbon dioxide concentration affects climate
The first PE will be fairly easy to address. Students should be making the connection between increased CO2 concentration and a disruption in the flow of energy between Earth's systems. The 'model' can be a conceptual model by which students are describing how a change in one system affects the properties of another system. We should make every effort to relate these changes to human activity though, because that is specified in the DCI.
The second PE may be more difficult, but we should focus on the distribution of carbon in the hydrosphere, atmosphere, geosphere, and biosphere and look to how human activity has altered that distribution.
Possible Questions:
Global climate changes are related to increased human activity in which of the following ways?
A decrease in the volume of glacial ice indicates which of the following?
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