Read & Explain Evidence Activity

Students divided into groups. There are 8 different evidence cards (ppt slides). First, read it. What’s it say? Then, explain it. What’s it mean?

1. Discuss the data or observation shown on the card.2. Be ready to describe this evidence to the class.3. How might this evidence be interpreted?4. Write your group-thoughts for 2 & 3 on the

notesheet.5. Listen and jot notes on all the other evidence on

notesheet.

1. CO2 Concentration Curve

Preponderance of Evidence Resource Card 2

2. Temperature (1880- 2005)

http://data.giss.nasa.gov/gistemp/graphs/Year

Tem

pera

ture

Diff

ere

nce

Fro

m N

orm

al

(°C

)

Preponderance of Evidence Resource Card 3

Muir Glacier, Alaska

NSIDC/WDC for Glaciology, Boulder, compiler. 2002, updated 2006. Online glacier photograph database. Boulder, CO: National Snow and Ice Data Center.

August 1941 August 2004

3. Shrinking Glaciers

Preponderance of Evidence Resource Card 4

Source: Westerling et al. 2006

Western US area burned

4. Increasing Wildfire Risk

Preponderance of Evidence Resource Card 5

Source: Hansen, Clim.Change, 68, 269, 2005.

5. Ice Core Records

Time (years)

CH

4 (

ppb)

CO

2 (

ppm

)

Preponderance of Evidence Resource Card 6

UCS

UCS

6. Projected Changes in CA Summer Temp.

Preponderance of Evidence Resource Card 7

2004 >9,500 ft

1900 >7,800 ft

Pika

7. Species Habitat Shifting

Species that are sensitive to temperature conditions can only move up the mountainside as conditions get too warm for them lower down.

In the Sierras, Pika were seen at 7,800 feet and above in 1900. By 2004, they were not seen below 9,500 feet. This trend is expected to continue.

The mountains rise as high as 12,000 feet, but the rocky hillsides where Pika live do not reach that high.

Preponderance of Evidence Resource Card 8

8. Diminishing Sierra SnowpackPercentage Remaining, Relative to 1961-1990

UCS

Preponderance of Evidence Resource Card 9