Name:____________________
Global Climate Change WebQuest
Greenhouse Effect
Go to the EPA’s Climate Change Kids Site:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/kids/basics/index.html
Watch the flash animation on the greenhouse effect on the right hand side of the website. It has
sound so make sure you have it loud enough so you can hear but not too loud.
1. In your own words, summarize the
greenhouse effect. What causes it?
2. Draw a diagram that depicts the
greenhouse effect.
3. Why are some greenhouse gasses considered good?
4. Who is this website sponsored by (if you are not sure about the source google and find out more
information)? What does this tell you about the possible bias of this website?
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?
Monitoring Climate Change
Go to the Time Video movie “Climatoon: An Animated Climate Change Chat”:
Part 1:
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,56037363001_1947068,00.html
Part 2:
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,,57403033001_1947791,00.html
Part 3:
http://www.time.com/time/video/player/0,32068,57946260001_1948513,00.html
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?
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>.
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?
3. Who is this website sponsored by (if you are not sure about the source google and find out more
information)? What does this tell you about the possible bias of this website?
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 – 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