Activity 4 - Global Warming. Is it happening?

 

  Introduction
  Students are required to manipulate and interpret the average annual global temperatures levels form 1959 to 1997.
  Aims of this activity
  For students to realise that temperature levels are rising and that there is some evidence of an increase in the rate of increase. There are also some inconsistencies in the pattern of temperature. Students should note this and consider whether this negates the argument that global temperatures are rising.
  NC Links
  QCA Reference - 9G4 -to use secondary sources to answer scientific questions. To evaluate the evidence put forward by others. To decide whether evidence is good enough to answer a question.
  NC PoS - Sc1 1a
  Activity notes
  The data on average global temperature levels is provided in an HTML, xls and pdf formats. Students can then select out the required data and produce graphs using a spreadsheet program e.g. Excel. Alternatively, the data can be downloaded from source and directly graphed. within the program. Traditional graphing methods can still be used. A ready made graph for the whole period can be used with students who are less confident in the use of spreadsheet programs. The pdf version of the data can be printed.
  Resources needed
 

Double click on the links below to retrieve:

The evidence - temperature. Is it happening?

The PC requires Excel, preferably at least 97.

An Acrobat Reader. This is a free download

Produced by Nick Falk

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