Download Cryosphere Lab 7 Activity Sheet - SERC

Earthlabs: Cryosphere – Lab 7
http://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/cryosphere/lab7.html
Name _________________________
Climate Change & the Cryosphere
PART A: Ice Core Climate Records
Use this plot of Vostok ice core data to help you answer Question 1.
1: Based on the Vostok ice core data plot above, how would you describe the relationship
between temperature change (blue line) and atmospheric CO2 concentration (green
line)? Explain why you think this relationship exists.
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Earthlabs: Cryosphere – Lab 7
http://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/cryosphere/lab7.html
Use this plot of recent and predicted trends in atmospheric carbon dioxide
concentration to help you answer Questions 2 and 3.
2: Based on the data from the last 100 years and the various predicted scenarios for the
next 100 years shown in this plot, do you think that people should be concerned about
rises in atmospheric CO2 concentration and average global temperatures? Explain why
or why not.
3: What consequences do you think the cryosphere might experience if CO2
concentrations and average global temperatures continue to rise with respect to
historical trends? Try to give specific examples.
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Earthlabs: Cryosphere – Lab 7
http://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/cryosphere/lab7.html
PART B: Sea Level Rise
1: Make a prediction. Which type of ice (sea ice or land ice) do you think would have a
larger contribution to sea level rise if large-scale melting due to climate change were to
occur? Explain.
Use the map of regions vulnerable to sea level rise to help you answer Questions 2, 3,
and 4.
2: According to the map, what areas of the world will be most threatened if sea level
rises by a few meters? Visit this web site
(http://www.globalwarmingart.com/wiki/Image:Global_Sea_Level_Rise_Risks_png )
to look at additional close-up regions of areas at risk. Would large-scale melting of ice
sheets only impact countries at high latitudes? Explain.
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Earthlabs: Cryosphere – Lab 7
http://serc.carleton.edu/eslabs/cryosphere/lab7.html
3: The plot above only shows coastal areas that are at or near current sea level. There
are also island nations at risk of entirely disappearing as a result of sea level rise. Do an
Internet search to find at least one example. Then answer the following questions:
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•
•
•
What is the name of the nation?
What is the nation's average elevation?
What is the nation's population?
How soon does this nation expect to be affected by sea level rise?
4: Describe the consequences the United States may face if sea level rises by just a few
meters. Give specific examples of coastlines, cities, industries, and habitats that would
be impacted.
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