This document provides information about global climate issues and research. It discusses the differences between weather and climate, how the sun's energy affects the Earth's climate, and factors that impact climate such as greenhouse gases. The document directs the reader to interactive elements to learn about how scientists study past climates using data from glaciers, timelines, and climate models to understand climate changes over hundreds, thousands, and millions of years and to predict future climate changes. The reader is asked to form their own opinion on what will happen to the global climate in the future based on the information presented.

1. Research Project
Global Climate Issues
Cause and Effect

2. Weather
•Weather is what the
weatherman on TV predicts each
day.
•Weather is not the same
everywhere – it changes day to
day and place to place.

3. Climate
•Climate is the average weather
in a region over a long period of
time.
•While the weather can change in
just a few hours, climate takes
hundreds, thousands, even
millions of years to change.

4. Climate and Energy
• The energy from the sun heats Earth
• Our atmosphere acts like a blanket, both absorbing
(trapping) and reflecting this heat energy
• It is a delicate balance to maintain the temperature of
Earth
• Click on the icon on the right.
• Complete the research questions in your booklet

5. On Your Own
Research
•Click on the diagram of
the greenhouse gasses
•Explain how the earth is
similar to a greenhouse
•List the advantage and
disadvantage
of these gasses

6. What Affects Our Climate?
•Click on each icon
•When redirected to the website, hold
your mouse over the icon
•Record how each factor affects our
climate

7. What Scientists Know
•Describe the changes in
the glacier
•Click on the picture,
when redirected to the
website, record “what
we know.”

8. What Scientists Predict
•Click on the
cartoon.
•When redirected
to the website,
record what
climate models
have predicted
may happen in 100
years.

9. Paleoclimatology
(The study of ancient climates)
•Click on the timeline
•List where scientists have
found clues about ancient
climates
•Record what happened
– a long, long, long time ago
– a long, long time ago
– a long time ago
– not so long ago

10. Ancient Climates
•Click on each icon.
•When redirected to the website,
scroll down and record how the
data is used to learn about ancient
climates.

11. What Do You Think
•What do you think will happen to
the global climate in the future?
•Defend your answer with the
information you have gathered.