Drive it Down! – the carbon cycle and climate change
This interactive provides an overview of climate change, greenhouse gases, the carbon cycle and other related concepts. To use this interactive, move your mouse or finger over any of the labelled boxes and click to obtain more information.
Select here to view the full transcript and copyright information.
This interactive uses text from the GNS Drive it Down! carbon cycle teaching resources to briefly explain some of the key science concepts that underpin understanding about the carbon cycle, carbon dioxide and its role in climate change. It also includes links to supporting articles, media and student activities from the Science Learning Hub and other websites.
To use this interactive, move your mouse or finger over any of the labelled boxes and click to obtain more information.
The article Drive it Down! – a context for learning provides pedagogical suggestions and links to the New Zealand Curriculum.
Download a PDF file of the transcript here.
Transcript
What is climate change?
Climate change refers to the long-term changes in the Earth’s climate, especially the increase in the average temperature of the planet.
Climate change affects the planet in many ways. With the changes in global temperature, extreme events are more likely to happen – for example, there will be more heatwaves, wildfires, floods, droughts and landslides due to heavy rain.
These events can also affect food and water supplies. People can get sick with more disease and have heat-related illnesses.
Animals and plants are also threatened by climate change. Threats include loss of food sources and water, habitat loss and the collapse of fragile ecosystems, which can result in species extinctions.
Why is the Earth warming?
Climate change is caused by the increase in the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases. These are gases from the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat reflected from the Earth’s surface (like how heat is trapped in a greenhouse).
Related articles
Related activities
Related media
Useful links
How carbon affects nearly everything on Earth – including our future – video by Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History
Climate change: Our biggest challenge – School Journal Level 4 June 2018
House of Science Climate Change Kit – these are available throughout the North Island. You will need an account and subscription to order the kit.
Image acknowledgement: GNS Science
Greenhouse gases
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Acknowledgement
This resource has been adapted from resources created for the Drive it Down! Measuring and mitigating school-gate emissions project. Scientists from GNS Science alongside educators developed the project and resources with funding from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment through the Unlocking Curious Minds fund and Te Herenga Waka University of Wellington Doctoral Scholarship. Further funding was provided by the Royal Society Te Apārangi Catalyst Fund (2020).
Contributors to Drive it Down!
Scientists from GNS Science developed the Drive it Down! project and resources. Funding was through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Unlocking Curious Minds fund, Te Herenga Waka University of Wellington Doctoral Scholarship and the Royal Society Te Apārangi Catalyst Fund (2020).
