Earth's Climate & Climate Change
Global warming — the steady increase in Earth’s air and ocean
temperatures since the mid-20th century — is one of the most discussed
and studied topics in the scientific community today. This kit
introduces you to Earth’s climate and the issue of global warming with
23 hands-on experiments.
Since Earth’s formation, its climate has been constantly changing.
Periods of warmer climate have alternated with ice ages. These changes
happen over long periods of time. During the last few decades, a warming
in the climate has been observed everywhere on Earth. While some warming
may be due to natural phenomena, scientists predominantly attribute
global warming to human influence. This kit gives you the basic
knowledge you need to understand the climate, why it changes, and how
our actions affect it.
First, learn about Earth’s climate system, weather, and atmosphere by
conducting experiments with a model Earth and atmosphere. Explore the
hydrological cycle to learn about humidity, clouds, and precipitation.
Model Earth’s heat reservoirs, thermals, global and local winds, and
ocean currents.
Next, learn how human activity influences the climate with experiments
involving carbon dioxide and the greenhouse effect. Measure the effects
that increased levels of carbon dioxide have on the temperature of air.
Learn about how warming affects the Gulf stream.
Finally, investigate the potential consequences of global warming on
humans, ecosystems, and the world’s economies. Learn what we can do to
protect the climate.
The full-color, 48-page manual guides your experiments. Ages 10 and up. |
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