WI DNR: The Science of Climate Change
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Provided by: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources|Published on: July 5, 2023
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Synopsis
- This scientific article presents text, data, and maps to describe the changes in global and state-wide temperatures from 1880, the increases in global carbon dioxide concentrations, and how changes in the Earth's climate will impact the weather and people in Wisconsin.
- Students will learn about the human sources of carbon dioxide emissions, see interactive data sets and numerous WI maps, and see the connections to the health and inequalities of Wisconsinites.
Subjects: Social Studies, Earth and Space Sciences, Mathematics, Health
Authors: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, PBS
Region: North America, Polar Regions, USA - Midwest, United States, Global, Wisconsin
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This report is filled with graphs that are useful and eye-opening.
- This report does an excellent job of citing credible sources.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with reading infographics and graphs.
- Students need to know what the Industrial Revolution is and have a basic understanding of the greenhouse effect.
Differentiation
- This report could enhance a lesson on how humans are impacting ecosystems, biomes, and wind patterns around the world.
- After studying the report, the teacher could lead a classroom discussion on the Wisconsin government's effectiveness at informing its citizens about climate change.
- This report could augment a lesson on how climate change is impacting personal health among different groups.
- This report could supplement a lesson on the carbon cycle and how it relates to climate change.
- More advanced students could use the NOAA interactive data sets to create their own graphs.
This resource from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources gives an introduction to the science of climate change and then focuses on what climate change in Wisconsin looks like, now and into the future. This resource is filled with excellent, cited figures, including the famous Keeling Curve of carbon dioxide concentration recorded at the Mauna Loa Observatory since 1958. A short video is also included that shows the Keeling Curve combined with ice core data to show how high current CO2 concentrations are compared to the last eight hundred thousand years. The resource then focuses solely on Wisconsin, with historical temperature and precipitation changes as well as predictions for the future. The article closes with a short discussion of how climate change impacts human health and the resilience of vulnerable communities. This resource is clear, well-sourced and is recommended for teaching.
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Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
