Button up: This week we visit the cryosphere!
How ironic that one of the important pieces of the global warming puzzle is the cryosphere! I first learned that term in a class last summer. Until then, I had never thought about earth’s icy caches as being such a vital part of our climate and more specifically of climate change.
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| Children in Pt. Hope, AK (Photo by K. East) |
Explain
Water, water everywhere….
Ice is a neat substance. The only solid that takes up more space than it does in a liquid form. The common idea is that as glaciers and icecaps melt, the sea level will rise. It will contribute to sea level rise, but I had not thought about the volume. The salinity and density of water plays an important role in the volume and thus in the amount of sea level rise. As with most things in nature, nothing is as simple as it seems!
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| Sea Ice off Pt. Hope, AK (Photo by K. East) |
Water can make an awesome inquiry lab in and of itself. Students of all ages can experiment with density, surface tension, volume changes between states, and dissolution of solids (like salt) in water.
I did not know about the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) before reading this week’s material.
I was struck by the statement about Mother Earth:
”Mother Earth is no longer in a period of climate change, but in climate crisis. We therefore insist on an immediate end to the destruction and desecration of the elements of life.
Indigenous Peoples have a vital role in defending and healing Mother Earth. The future of
Indigenous Peoples lies in the wisdom of our elders, the restoration of the sacred position of
women, the youth of today and in the generations of tomorrow.”
This really sums up the extreme importance of climate change on indigenous peoples and their way of life. I particularly like the statement about climate crisis. The earth has undergone climate change in the past, but not under the same circumstances or as quickly as it is now. “Climate crisis” seems a very appropriate way to describe the state of our climate.
Permafrost
I have experience the impacts of permafrost. My back door closes fine in the summer, but in the winter as the ground freezes, the door gets harder and harder to close as the floor rises on top of the expanding soil volume.
I knew there was a section of Colorado that has permafrost, but I had no idea that 55% of the northern hemisphere is permafrost. Wow – it is hard to imagine the impact on buildings, roads, and ecosystems if and when it melts!
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| Ice on the Kenai River (Photo by K. East) |
Extend
The NASA satellite data is spectacular. I will be able to use it with our Magic Planet display and in conjunction with our global warming curriculum. It is very interesting to compare the satellite data with the oral and written records of Arctic people. Both views are very important and can contribute to our overall understanding of the cryosphere. This is a great way for students to explore how different points of view, one close up and one from space, contribute to the “big picture.”
The ICE sat website provides some great explanations about how the satellites collect data and how that data is analyzed. This is a good one to use for middle and high school.
The ICC is very committed to helping to fix the problem and not just complain about it. They have very specific suggestions on topics such as how to decrease pollution and how indigenous people can become involved in the process. This can be a resource for students to look at what they can do to be a part of the climate change solution.
The ICC stated:
"We offer to share with humanity our Traditional Knowledge, innovations, and practices
relevant to climate change, provided our fundamental rights as intergenerational
guardians of this knowledge are fully recognized and respected. We reiterate the urgent
need for collective action. "
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The Digital Bits Science Lab website is awesome! I am always looking for quick and interesting labs or demonstrations to do in class. This website will definately go in my toolbox.
Steve McLean, an Inupiaq scientist has a unique and interesting way to look at the interaction of humans in the ecosystem. In his interview, it states
"MacLean believes scientists should not separate people from natural systems in their research and recommendations. Instead, they should treat people as part of the natural systems."
I wholeheartedly agree. We are part of the natural system and have a major impact on the world around us. Whether you agree that human actions (or in-actions) are good or bad, they are!
Evaluate
Everything this week is very relevant to Alaskan students and community members. The cryosphere is full of fascinating interactions. It contributes to ocean currents and weather patterns around the world, including at the equator which is unexpected to most people. It contributes significantly to the earth’s “energy budget” and how solar radiation is absorbed or reflected. The image of the polar caps being a white brimmed hat is very powerful and a great way to get the idea across to people.
The cryosphere is a great way to show an example of positive feedback. There are so many systems in nature that are positive feedback loops and this is one that is fairly easy to explain and use as an example.
Along the same lines, the irony of how decreasing pollution levels may contributing to global warming is very relevant to students and community members alike. It is a great discussion point to look at how all actions have consequences, both good and bad. Community decisions have to be a balance of these two sides while keeping in mind that there may also be unforeseen consequences.
The Visible Earth has great NASA satellite pictures of changes in cryosphere. Students can use these to quantify changes over time in the polar ice cap.
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| Global warming will impact the ecosystem and humans! From: National Forest Legal News Blog |
3 colleagues
Janet Reed
I really like your idea for measuring temps and snow fall. This is a great way to get kids outside and looking at the world right under their feet. It is also a perfect inquiry project and way to show that what sometimes seems logical isn’t always so!
Tracey R. Pulido
Interesting perspective on birth control….not sure it’s appropriate to share with students, though.
After the ice storm in Fairbanks, this would be a great opportunity to have students look at the effects of global warming and the crysosphere right in their backyard!
Alicia Weaver
Module 6: I enjoyed reading your reflections and ideas about pollution in Alaska. I, too, immediately think of pollution and big cities or populated areas and don’t think about pollution being in Alaska. It is very sobering to realize that we experience the pollution here and in a concentrated form!
There were many different points this week you hit on that I too felt the same way.
ReplyDeleteI liked the quote from the ICC about Mother Nature being in crisis and how we needed to see what to do about this.
I also enjoyed the part on Shawn Mclean. At the end of the video he has a part that would speak to children when he tells them about being a scientist and enjoying things they love.
I also like the idea of using interactive videos in the classroom that engage students.