The simulation indicated that if all the ice in Greenland melted, the sea level would rise by about 7 m. We found that this corresponds to about 2,500,000 km³ of ice melted. How much would the sea level rise if “only” 500,000 km³ of ice melted? (You can use 7 m sea level = 2,500,000 km³ ice as a conversion factor.)

• 35 meters

• 5.0 meters

• 2.5 meters

• 1.4 meters

Answer explanation

Did you set up a unit conversion problem with your conversion factor? Were you able to cancel out units?

500,000 km3 x (7 m / 2,500,000 km3) = 1.4 meters

Scientists predict that a 0.5 m sea level rise is likely, with more possible. We calculated that about 4,000,000 people would have to move if the sea level rose by this amount. If the sea level rose by even 1/10th this amount, about how many people would likely have to move? (Assume the population is distributed evenly across the affected areas.

• 40,000 people

• 400,000 people

• 2,000,000 people

• 40,000,000 people

Answer explanation

Which pieces of information in this problem are important to help us make a prediction about the number of people who migrate?

1/10th of 4,000,000 people is 400,000 people.

In this lesson, we brainstormed different possible solutions to help slow or stop sea level rise. Why might these solutions be important to you, whether you live near the ocean or not?

What types of benefits would result if we implemented a solution that could prevent even half of the polar ice melt and sea level rise that would otherwise happen?

• Fewer people who live near coasts will have to move

• Some coastal environments would be protected

• Some polar ecosystems would be preserved

• All of the above

How did using mathematical thinking about unit conversions help you make sense of polar ice melt and sea level rise? 

How did thinking about scale and quantity help you make sense of polar ice melt and sea level rise?

Name one student who helped you learn today. What did they do to help you learn?