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Extensive Climate Education resources are available through CLEAN and the Teach the Earth climate collection.

Image Gallery: Documenting Glacial Change - CLEAN

Initial Publication Date: April 29, 2016

Summary

Selected for the CLEAN Collection.

A collection of repeat photography of glaciers from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC). The photos are taken years apart at or near the same location, illustrating how dramatically glacier positions can change even over a relatively short period in geological time: 60 to 100 years. Background essay and discussion questions are included.


Learning Goals

Following suggestions are by CLEAN reviewers:

Description and Teaching Materials

View Gallery >> Documenting Glacial Change

Teaching Notes and Tips

Teaching Tips


About the Science

  • The Background Essay gives a nice overview of causes and effects of glacial retreat.
  • The effect on the immediate environment, once glaciers recede, is readily apparent. Receding glaciers leave telltale signs of their presence in the landscape. With the ice gone, glaciated terrain may be characterized by an eroded valley bed and debris piles, ripe for colonization by pioneer plant species.
  • Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

  • Easy to see the changes over time.
  • Images pairs are supported by an essay and multiple links to other resources both print and media.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

  • Sliders work well. Photos are well-enough-aligned for change over time to be striking.

Assessment

Assessment is at the discretion of the educator and how this video is applied.