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. Why is a 1oF change in global average temperature a very significant change?
  6. How has Earth’s climate changed over the past million years?
  7. What is a Milankovich cycle?
  8. 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. What is thought to be the “safe” concentration of atmospheric CO2 concentration?
  14. Explain why climate change is expected to increase the occurrence and severity of hurricanes.
  15. What is the IPCC and what is its role in the climate change issue?
  16. 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
Set up oyster experiment
Monday April 13
Interactive Notebook: Greenhouse effect
HW – study for quiz tomorrow / Tuesday April 14
Quiz – Obj #1-4
Interactive notebook: Historical climate / Wed April 15
SAT for all Juniors 8am-1pm
7th period: Tragedy of the Commons and the Carbon Footprint / Thurs April 16
2nd Period:
Tragedy of the Commons and the carbon footprint / Friday April 17
Interactive notebook: Effects of Climate change
Monday April 20
Interactive Notebook: effects on species (complete worksheet) / Tuesday April 21
Interactive notebook: Hurricanes and the Ike Dike (Analysis due end of period) / Wednesday April 22, Thurs April 23
Happy Earth Day!
Solutions to climate change / Friday April 24
Review day
Monday27
Test – Climate