Regulating Greenhouse Gases

Regulating Greenhouse Gases
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/kqedcl11.sci.ess.regulatinggreenhousegases/

KQED, Teachers' Domain

This video highlights the work of climate scientists in the Amazon who research the relationship between deforestation, construction of new dams, and increased amounts of greenhouse gases being exchanged between the biosphere and the atmosphere.

Video length is 5:25 min.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»

See how this Video supports the Next Generation Science Standards»

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Middle School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 6

MS-ESS2.A1: All Earth processes are the result of energy flowing and matter cycling within and among the planet’s systems. This energy is derived from the sun and Earth’s hot interior. The energy that flows and matter that cycles produce chemical and physical changes in Earth’s materials and living organisms.

MS-ESS2.A2: The planet’s systems interact over scales that range from microscopic to global in size, and they operate over fractions of a second to billions of years. These interactions have shaped Earth’s history and will determine its future.

MS-ESS3.D1: Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities.

MS-LS1.C1: Plants, algae (including phytoplankton), and many microorganisms use the energy from light to make sugars (food) from carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and water through the process of photosynthesis, which also releases oxygen. These sugars can be used immediately or stored for growth or later use.

MS-PS3.D1: The chemical reaction by which plants produce complex food molecules (sugars) requires an energy input (i.e., from sunlight) to occur. In this reaction, carbon dioxide and water combine to form carbon-based organic molecules and release oxygen.

MS-PS3.D2: Cellular respiration in plants and animals involve chemical reactions with oxygen that release stored energy. In these processes, complex molecules containing carbon react with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and other materials.

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High School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 6

HS-ESS2.A1: Earth’s systems, being dynamic and interacting, cause feedback effects that can increase or decrease the original changes.

HS-ESS2.D1: The foundation for Earth’s global climate systems is the electromagnetic radiation from the sun, as well as its reflection, absorption, storage, and redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and land systems, and this energy’s re-radiation into space.

HS-ESS2.D3: Changes in the atmosphere due to human activity have increased carbon dioxide concentrations and thus affect climate.

HS-ESS2.E1: The many dynamic and delicate feedbacks between the biosphere and other Earth systems cause a continual co-evolution of Earth’s surface and the life that exists on it.

HS-LS1.C1: The process of photosynthesis converts light energy to stored chemical energy by converting carbon dioxide plus water into sugars plus released oxygen.

HS-PS3.D2: The main way that solar energy is captured and stored on Earth is through the complex chemical process known as photosynthesis.

Grade Level

Middle (6-8)
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High School (9-12)
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Topics

Greenhouse Effect
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Deforestation
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Sources and Sinks
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Land Use Changes
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Climate Literacy

This Video builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Climate is complex

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

This video would fit in well with a science or geography unit on the Amazon, as well as a study on the carbon cycle, the greenhouse effect, deforestation, or global warming impacts by humans, especially as regards dam building.

About the Content

The video discusses a scientist's research on the relationship between the Amazon forest as a carbon dioxide sink, deforestation as a result of building dams, and deforestation's contribution to climate change regarding less carbon dioxide being sequestered and more methane being released from reservoirs and dams.
Comments from expert scientist: Good demonstration of climate change relevant measurements, i.e., measuring CO2 flux in the Amazon. Although that the explanation could be more complete. The data used is dated and has an indirect message.

About the Pedagogy

Video is accompanied by lesson plan, teacher's guide, transcript, background articles, and workbook for students. These supplmentary materials expand the ease of use of the video within a unit about regulating greenhouse gases.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

The video is best viewed on desktop or projected on screen in classroom, as it is slightly pixellated when enlarged.
Video can also be viewed at http://www.kqed.org/education/educators/clue-into-climate/greenhouse-gases.jsp#regulating

Related URLs These related sites were noted by our reviewers but have not been reviewed by CLEAN

http://www.kqed.org/education/educators/clue-into-climate/ AND http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/episodes/amazon/

Entered the Collection: July 2014 Last Reviewed: July 2014

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Middle School (see details)

Middle School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 6

High School (see details)

High School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 6

Grade Level

Topics

Climate Literacy

Teaching Tips

About the Content

About the Pedagogy

Technical Details/Ease of Use

Related URLs These related sites were noted by our reviewers but have not been reviewed by CLEAN

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