Task summary

   Your task,   Dr. Determine, is to reach your own conclusion about what you believe to be the truth regarding global climate change: is  it a human caused condition brought about through our release of greenhouse cases, or is it a natural cycle of atmospheric change on which humans have had no effect? You must also decide whether you feel that we need to actually do something or not, about what we see happening to our atmosphere.
     In order to make your decision you will first need to know what greenhouse gases are, then you must travel back in time
to collect data and information about changes in the level of those gases in Earth's atmosphere as well as information about what might have caused those changes. You must also find evidence of any climate changes that might have happened as a result of those atmospheric changes.
    Once you have reached your conclusion you must write a letter to the citizens of the world telling them about the conclusion you have reached, and support that conclusion with the facts that you have collected. You must also state what you believe to be the best course of action to take, if any, and why you feel that way.
    Good luck on your mission Dr, we're all counting on you to do a complete and thorough job in your research and give us
the answer that we desperately need!

Task Summary

To summarize your job, you must:

• Determine what greenhouse gases are.

• Track any changes in their levels in the atmosphere
  through historical and current records.

• Decide whether you feel those changes were caused
  by humans or something else.

• Analyze the data collected to see if you believe that these atmospheric changes caused any climate changes, if you
  found any.

• Apply this information to the current atmospheric
  changes occurring and judge whether you feel that it is necessary for people to try to do something about them or not.

• Write a letter to the citizens of the Earth detailing your
  findings, and support your conclusions by referring to the data and facts that you collected on your journey through time within the body of the letter. The letter must be two pages, double spaced, and must also include a "works cited" page listing all of the websites whose data and information you use to support your point of view.
   Specifically, your letter must include, clearly stated:

  • What the greenhouse gases are, any changes in their atmospheric levels in the past, and any past climate changes that your research turned up.

  • In your opinion, is the current climate change
    because of human activity or not, with reference to
    the facts that helped you reach that conclusion.

  • In your opinion, is there anything that we can do to slow or stop the current climate change, or not, why you feel that way, and make reference to the data or information that helped you come to that decision.

  • Whether you feel that the current climate change is cause for concern or not, and why you feel that way, with reference to the facts that helped you reach that conclusion.

  • Do you feel that there is any need to be concerned about some of the predictions that scientists have made regarding the possible effects related to the current climate change (sea-level rise, loss of forests and/or animal habitats, etc) and why you feel that way. Make reference to the information that helped you come to have that opinion.

Title

Introduction

Task

Procedure

Resources

Evaluation

Teacher Page

Credits