Objective Sheet - Climate Change
Name ______________________________
1. Explain how the greenhouse effect works.
2. Why do we need the greenhouse effect?
3. List the four major gases responsible for the greenhouse effect and their sources in the Houston
area.
4. What happens to the global average temperature when greenhouse gases increase?
5.
6.
7.
8.
Why is a 1oF change in global average temperature a very significant change?
How has Earth’s climate changed over the past million years?
What is a Milankovich cycle?
What is the current CO2 concentration of Earth’s atmosphere? What is the current global
temperature?
9. How does our society depend on a constant climate?
10. Describe the Tragedy of the Commons. Identify at least three resources that could be affected
by the Tragedy of the Commons as populations grow.
11. Why is climate change an example of the Tragedy of the Commons?
12. What is a carbon footprint? Give examples of how a high school student in Houston can reduce
their carbon footprint.
13.
14.
15.
16.
What is thought to be the “safe” concentration of atmospheric CO2 concentration?
Explain why climate change is expected to increase the occurrence and severity of hurricanes.
What is the IPCC and what is its role in the climate change issue?
How do climatologists predict future climate? How much warmer is our planet expected to
become?
17. Describe six expected effects of global climate change. For each, explain what effect it
would have on the Houston area.
18. Why will species become extinct in rapid climate change? Why won’t animals just adapt to the
changes?
19. What species in the Houston area are at the greatest risk?
20. How is climate change affecting oysters in Galveson Bay?
21. Why would a direct hit of a hurricane up Galveston Bay and the ship channel be such a problem?
Describe the expected environmental, economic and social effects on Galveston Bay, downtown
Houston and the west side of Houston.
22. Describe the proposed Ike Dike – where would it be, what would its function be? Who are the
stakeholders in the proposal?
23. Describe the tradeoffs of building the Ike Dike.
24. How can climate change be slowed down? Describe changes at the city and personal level.
Friday April 10
Intro to climate
change
Monday April 13
Tuesday April 14
Interactive
Notebook:
Greenhouse
effect
Quiz – Obj #1-4
SAT for all
2nd Period:
Interactive
Juniors 8am-1pm
notebook:
Tragedy of the
Historical climate 7th period:
Commons and
Tragedy of the
the carbon
Commons and
footprint
the Carbon
Footprint
Tuesday April 21 Wednesday April 22, Thurs April 23
Interactive
notebook:
Effects of
Climate change
Interactive
notebook:
Hurricanes and
the Ike Dike
(Analysis due
end of period)
Review day
HW – study for
quiz tomorrow
Monday April 20
Interactive
Notebook:
effects on
species
(complete
worksheet)
Monday27
Test – Climate
Wed April 15
Thurs April 16
Set up oyster
experiment
Friday April 17
Happy Earth Day!
Solutions to climate change
Friday April 24