Climate Models

Climate Models
http://rmpbs.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ttv10.sci.ess.climatemodels/climate-models/

ThinkTV, PBS Learning Media

This video explains how scientists construct computer-generated climate models to forecast weather, understand climate, and project climate change. It discusses how different types of climate models can be used and how scientists use computers to build these models.

Video length is 3:41 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: 1

MS-ESS2.D1: Weather and climate are influenced by interactions involving sunlight, the ocean, the atmosphere, ice, landforms, and living things. These interactions vary with latitude, altitude, and local and regional geography, all of which can affect oceanic and atmospheric flow patterns.

Cross Cutting Concepts: 3

Systems and System Models

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Systems and System Models

MS-C4.1: Systems may interact with other systems; they may have sub-systems and be a part of larger complex systems.

MS-C4.2: Models can be used to represent systems and their interactions—such as inputs, processes and outputs—and energy, matter, and information flows within systems.

MS-C4.3: Models are limited in that they only represent certain aspects of the system under study.

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High School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 2

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.D4: Current models predict that, although future regional climate changes will be complex and varied, average global temperatures will continue to rise. The outcomes predicted by global climate models strongly depend on the amounts of human-generated greenhouse gases added to the atmosphere each year and by the ways in which these gases are absorbed by the ocean and biosphere.

Cross Cutting Concepts: 4

Systems and System Models

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Systems and System Models

HS-C4.1: Systems can be designed to do specific tasks.

HS-C4.2: When investigating or describing a system, the boundaries and initial conditions of the system need to be defined and their inputs and outputs analyzed and described using models.

HS-C4.3: Models (e.g., physical, mathematical, computer models) can be used to simulate systems and interactions—including energy, matter, and information flows—within and between systems at different scales.

HS-C4.4: Models can be used to predict the behavior of a system, but these predictions have limited precision and reliability due to the assumptions and approximations inherent in models.

Grade Level

Middle (6-8)
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High School (9-12)
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College Lower (13-14)
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Topics

Climate Data
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Global Climate Modeling
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Measuring and Modeling Climate
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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.

Our understanding of climate

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

Use as an introduction to what climate models are and how they are used.
See additional teaching tips provided with resource.

About the Content

Animations depict the way scientists divide the globe into a three-dimensional grid with many layers reaching up into the atmosphere, to capture many types of information.
Provides an excellent beginner's introduction to climate models. The content is good, but it is not visually interesting.
Comments from science expert: Overall, this resource is mostly accurate.
Suggestions:
- The terms "model or simulate" will not be clear to this audience. I recommend defining these terms.
- "They begin by drawing a grid across the surface. This divides Earth into squares". The word "squares" is misleading. I think this is referring to columns on which the equations are solved. My understanding is that the equations are solved within each column, not at the corners.
- More visuals showing how climate models are run (e.g., big computers) or what their outputs produce and how realistic they can look when compared to satellite imagery would be really helpful/useful.

About the Pedagogy

A background essay, teaching tips, and a link to standards are provided.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

When viewed online in full-screen mode, the image is pixilated.

Entered the Collection: March 2019 Last Reviewed: September 2014

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Middle School (see details)

Middle School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 1

Cross Cutting Concepts: 3

High School (see details)

High School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 2

Cross Cutting Concepts: 4

Grade Level

Topics

Climate Literacy

Teaching Tips

About the Content

About the Pedagogy

Technical Details/Ease of Use

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