Grade 6 - Changes in Climate

Front

How do Earth’s systems interact with the Sun and each other to impact climate?

Back

-Clouds reflecting sunlight into space

-Greenhouse gases trapping heat from the Sun

- Ice reflecting light from the Sun

Front

Explain some geographical location factors affect climate.

Back

- Latitude: Areas closer to the equator are warmer, areas closer to the poles are cooler

-Urban/rural setting: Urban areas are warmer, rural are cooler

-Altitude/Elevation: Higher areas are cooler

-Proximity to Bodies of Water: Areas near large bodies of water have milder climates and more precipitation

Front

Describe some natural processes that can cause changes in climate, and how they affect climate.

Back

-Changes in orbits: The Sun’s orbit changes over time and at times we are closer to the Sun than other times. This may be the cause of Earth’s ice ages.

-Changes in the Sun’s output: The Sun’s energy output is not always the same, it is sometimes higher (more heat energy) and lower (less heat energy)

-Meteors: Impacts can cause particles in the atmosphere to block the Sun’s energy. Later, greenhouse gases left behind can cause a rise in temperatures.

-Volcanic Eruptions: Ash, gases, and other particles can block the Sun’s energy and/or act as greenhouse gases to increase temperatures.

Front

Describe some human activities that can cause changes in climate, and how they affect climate.

Back

-Industrialization: increased greenhouse gases released, destruction of wetlands and forests

-Pollution: Greenhouse gases cause increased temperatures

Front

What are some personal actions we can take to affect global climate change?

Back

-Reduce personal consumption and waste

-Plant a garden or buy local produce

-Use clean, affordable energy sources

Front

Describe some possible effects of climate change on land, plants, humans, and other animals

Back

-Land: Warming temperatures result in melting land ice. Sea level rise results in coastal erosion, damaged shorelines.

-Plants: Some plants do not do well in warmer temperatures while others thrive, plants can be damaged by drought, flooding, soil erosion, and heat waves.

-Humans: Farmers see challenges with agriculture, First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities see challenges in traditional ways of life, coastal communities contend with sea level rise and increased flooding, extreme weather affects countries around the world…

-Animals: Habitats are changing and being lost, seasonal migration patterns change as temperatures rise and winters are shorter and milder…

Front

How do we identify and track climate change?

Back

-Traditional knowledge and modern technologies both provide information

-Recorded information, oral narratives, surface layers from different time periods

-Weather conditions, extreme weather events, sea and ocean levels, thickness of sea ice, permafrost changes, forest fires

-Collaboration between scientists, Elders, and traditional Knowledge Keepers

Front

How does climate change affect extreme weather?

Back

-Frequency and severity of extreme weather events has increased with climate change

-Shoreline damage results in more storm surges on coastlines

Front

Name and describe some technologies used to track and predict extreme weather events.

Back

-Radar – a system used to detect the direction, distance, and speed of objects using radio waves

-Weather satellites – provide images of the surface of the Earth, cloud cover, and moisture in the atmosphere. Can detect severe storms.

-Computer modelling – Computers take information from radar, weather satellites, and other sources, and combine it with historical data to create a weather forecast.