Project – Climate Change Debate
Our Climate is changing. Scientists agree the air and ocean temperatures are increasing, glaciers are shrinking, ice caps are melting, extreme weather events are on the rise, etc. The causes of these changes are both complex and dynamic. Some of these changes are as a result of natural factors, and others are due to human influence/activity.
Your task:
Your group must thoroughly research your assigned factor from the list below. Your group must prepare a formal argument/presentation for why you believe your climate change factor is the leading cause of climate change (a point is scored for each supporting piece of evidence in your argument). Each group will also be given a chance to score 2 points by making counter arguments once they have heard all the other groups. In the end, all 11 causes of climate change will be ranked in order of importance based on the effectiveness of the presentations (teams with highest point totals rank higher).
Natural Causes
1) Earth’s tilt, wobble, and orbital path
2) Changes in the Earth’s water cycle – H2O in the atmosphere
3) Ocean Currents – El Niño, La Niña
4) Changes in the Carbon Cycle – CO2 in the atmosphere
5) Volcanic activity and other catastrophic events
Human Activity
Enhanced greenhouse effect due to:
6) CO2 – carbon dioxide
7) CH4 - methane
8) N2O – nitrous oxide
9) O3 - ozone
10) CFC’s - chlorofluorocarbons
11) Land Use – farming/deforestation etc.
Group Members: ________________________________________________________
Date of Debate: _________________________