The Greenhouse Effect Webquest
Name__________________
Use the internet to answer the following questions.
1. In your own words define the Greenhouse Effect. What causes it?
2. Is the Greenhouse Effect Good or Bad?
3. What are four major greenhouse gases?
4. How have human actions affected the Greenhouse Effect?
Use the link below to answer the following questions.
http://www.ucar.edu/learn/1_3_1.htm
1. What does the web site report as the surface temperatures for the three “Goldilocks Planets”?
Venus: __________
Earth: __________
2. What is the “blanket” composed of?
3. Compare the “blanket” present on Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Mars:__________
4. What are the four major Greenhouse Gases and their formulas?
Access this EPA site to learn about the climatic implications of the greenhouse effect:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/indicators/pdfs/CI-summary.pdf
1. For each section list a few (3-5) facts and summarize the main point.
Greenhouse Gases
Weather and Climate
Oceans
Snow and Ice
Society and Ecosystems
2. Draw a diagram that depicts the greenhouse effect.
3. Why are some greenhouse gasses considered good?
Citation: "Global Warming Movie." Climate Change Kids Site. Environmental Protection Agency, 23 Oct. 2006.
Web. 17 Mar. 2011. <http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/global_warming_version2.html>.
Understanding the Issue
Go to the NOAA Research article "Observing Climate Variability and Change”:
http://www.research.noaa.gov/climate/t_observing.html
Read the article and take notes on the following topics:
Questions/Topics:
Notes:
1. How does climate
variability manifest in both
predictable (El Nino) and
seasonal ways?
2. How have human
activities contributed to
global climate change since
the onset of the Industrial
Revolution?
3. List some of the findings
of the report submitted by
the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC)
and the National Research
Council (NRC).
4. Click on the graph entitled
“Variations of the Earth’s
surface temperature.” What
does the graph tell you about
climate change?
Go to the Time Video movie “Climatoon: An Animated Climate Change Chat”:
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,56037363001_1947068,00.html
Watch Parts I, II, & III and answer the following questions.
1. What was happening in Copenhagen in 2009? Why was the Kyoto Protocol so important?
2. What evidence is available that the earth is experiencing climate change?
3. Name 2 places that will experience the greatest hardship due to climate change? What is happening
there?
4. According to the video, who bears the biggest responsibility for making changes? Do you agree?
Citation: Hardman, Jesse, and Arthur Jones. "Climatoon: An Animated Climate Change Chat." Time Video. Time
Inc., 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,56037363001_1947068,00.html>.
Endangered Exports
Go to the Time Specials article “Top 10 Endangered Exports”:
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945317_1945308,00.html
Read all ten parts of the article and answer the following questions.
1. Make a list of 5 impacts on the world’s export economy that are likely to occur in the 21st century if
we do nothing about global climate change. Rank these changes from most to least important from
your point of view. Give reasons for the single most important change on your list.
Citation: Kelly, Tara. "Top 10 Endangered Exports." Time Specials. Time Inc., 4 Dec. 2009. Web. 17 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945317_1945308_1945293,00.ht ml>.
Skeptics of Global Climate Change
Go to the conservative organization National Center for Public Policy Research website on
global warming: http://www.nationalcenter.org/KyotoQuestionsAnswers.html
Read the article and answer the following questions.
1. What arguments (list at least 5-7) do skeptics of global climate change make that would lead us to
believe that we should not be concerned?
2. What does the article say about the Kyoto Protocol?
Citation: "Questions and Answers on Global Warming." Global Warming Information Center. National Center for
Public Policy Research, 2001. Web. 17 Mar. 2011.
<http://www.nationalcenter.org/KyotoQuestionsAnswers.html>.
Additional resources to help shape your opinion and provide research:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june01/global_warming.html
-a great article from PBS and highly recommended
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
-a great resource from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) providing links to various topics on
global warming
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/jan-june05/kyoto_2-14.html
-an article from PBS outlining the history and impacts of the Kyoto Protocol
http://www.pbs.org/now/science/climatechange.html
-a timeline of global warming from PBS NOW