Summative
Analyze Geoscience Data to make an evidence-based forecast of the current rate of global or regional climate change
Nevado del Tolima, 5276 m.s.n.m, in PNN Los Nevados, Colombia. I summited it in February 2023
Embedded Files
Background Information
Background Information
Finca La Playa and Nevado del Tolima (Smith, 2023)
The majestic Los Nevados National Natural Park is located in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, in the northern volcanic complex formed by Nevado del Ruiz, Nevado de Santa Isabel, Nevado del Tolima, and the paramillos of Cisne, Santa Rosa and Quindío. It was created to contribute to the conservation of ecosystems that are important worldwide such as three of the glaciers left in the country, super páramo and páramo ecosystems, high Andean wetlands and Andean and high Andean forests. The Park is central in articulating biological connectivity at a regional level, interacting with regional, departmental and local environmental entities.
The Park is in the heart of Colombia’s coffee growing region. The rivers that descend from its snow peaks and páramos supply water to the farmlands and aqueducts of cities, towns and villages in the center of the country. The Otún wetland system, located within the Park, was declared an internationally important Ramsar Convention wetland. By conserving the water and biological wealth, in harmony with the communities residing in its zone of influence and its visitors, we can imagine a better future for everyone.
Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia. (2017, May 11). Los Nevados National Natural Park. https://old.parquesnacionales.gov.co/portal/en/ecotourism/andean-region/los-nevados-national-natural-park/
World Bank Group. (2021). (rep.). Climate risk country profile: Colombia.
Task Overview
Task Overview
Task: Analyze geoscience data about the cryosphere in Colombia, to make evidence-based forecasts based on the current rate of climate change
The cryosphere is one of several Earth systems. It is composed of the places and parts of our world with frozen water in the forms of snow and ice. This includes the Arctic and Antarctic poles, on the tops of mountains, sea ice, ice shelves and icebergs, glaciers, and frozen ground (permafrost). The cryosphere is an important climate regulator. Surfaces with high albedo reflect solar radiation back to Space, and low temperatures reduce or halt decomposition. What effects will climate change have on the cryosphere in Colombia, and what will the impacts of these changes be?
Section 1: Analyzing geoscience data in orthoimages
Section 2: Analyzing geoscience from glacier photo pairs
Section 3: Forecasting the rate of change with thermodynamics
Section 4: Forecasting future conditions in Colombia
Volcán Nevado de Santa Isabel en 1980 y 2019. Fotos: Jair Ramírez e Ideam. - Foto: Jair Ramírez e Ideam. 13 glaciares han desaparecido en Colombia en los últimos 200 años
Assessment Criteria
Assessment Criteria
Make a valid, reliable claim
The claim needs to be argumentative, specific, makes one point at a time, and is short. You're identifying something you explicitly or implicitly observe in the data.
Analyze trends
State the relationship you see, using the variables and referencing specific data points.
Evaluate how new data impacts understanding
What does the data allow you to predict or forecast about the future?
Make accurate calculations.
Accuracy is the degree to which a measured value is to the actual value. In other words, compute/calculate correct numbers. Show all your work.
Models are used to explain how changes affect behavior within of the system; Use conceptual ideas to explain a phenomenon
Study Guide Materials
Study Guide Materials
What to use to review if you are attending the semester exam
Section 1: LandSat Images
H.2 Glacier Photo Pairs
H.6 Sea Ice Images
Albedo
Section 2: Glacier Photo Pairs
H.2 Glacier Photo Pairs
Section 3: Forecasting Rate of Change in Colombia using Thermodynamics
H.3 Vostok Cores
H.4 GHGs
Calculating percent change AND rate of change
Explain the 0th, 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics using examples
Section 4: Forecasting Future Conditions in Colombia
Your understanding of the whole unit
Writing a magnet summary + using it to explain future conditions
Percentiles
H.1 Glacier lab
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