Website: Amazon Rain Forest and Climate Change - UCAR COMET

Ginny Brown

Summary

This module was developed by COMET - UCAR, Publish Date: 2009-12-22

  • English (text version), Portuguese (multimedia version)
  • Skill Level: Upper High School and Undergraduate
  • Completion Time: 1.50 - 2.00 hours
  • Includes Audio: no
  • Required Plugins: Flash
  • Requires sign in
  • Topics: Climate, Environment and Society

This module discusses global climate change that is occurring largely because of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities, and in particular the impact that tropical deforestation plays in the climate system. It also covers signs of climate change, the current thinking on future changes, and international agreements that are attempting to minimize the effects of climate change. The United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries (UN-REDD Programme) is also discussed.

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Learning Goals

1. List factors that influence climate on Earth.

2. Identify greenhouse gases and their sources and define their role in climate.

3. Identify the countries that contribute the most to greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Identify impacts of climate change on the Earth system.

5. Describe evidence for human involvement in current climate change.

6. List anticipated effects of future climate change and determine which are considered most likely.

7. Explain how tropical forests affect and are affected by a changing climate.

8. Explain how deforestation can affect precipitation in the Amazon.

9. List some secondary impacts from deforestation of the Amazon

10. Describe the main sources of Brazil's contributions to global greenhouse gases.

11. Identify the main international agreements that have been in place to address global climate change.

12. Describe what the REDD Program is and explain its main purpose

Context for Use

To be determined by the user. This could be a interdisciplinary unit to include international policy, society, forestry, indigenous people, etc. This unit covers a variety of climate change related issues.

Description and Teaching Materials

Teaching Notes and Tips

Most COMET® Program modules use JavaScript and Adobe® Flash® for navigation, animation, and/or presentation of multimedia elements. Ensure that you have enabled them to your browser for use.

Assessment

The Amazon Rain Forest and Climate Change Quiz Disclaimer Note: At the request of COMET sponsors, this quiz is designed to demonstrate your successful completion of the module. Because the quiz is being administered online, upon completion you will be given only feedback on which questions you answered correctly and incorrectly. No additional instructional feedback is provided. However, should you need to, you can use this information to revisit the module to determine how to answer correctly and then attempt the quiz again.

References and Resources

Broecker, W.S., and R. Kunzig, 2008: Fixing Climate: What Past Climate Changes Reveal About the Current Threat--and How to Counter It.
Hill and Wang, 253 pp. Calvin, W.H., 2008. Global Fever: How to Treat Climate Change.
University of Chicago Press, 337 pp. Cowie, J., 2007: Climate Change: Biological and Human Aspects.
Cambridge University Press, 504 pp. Cotton, W.R., and R.A. Pielke, Sr., 2007: Human Impacts on Weather and Climate.
Cambridge University Press, 330 pp. See especially epilogue. Henson, R., 2008: The Rough Guide to Climate Change.
Rough Guides Ltd, 384 pp. IPCC Reports: - AR4 Synthesis Report - Working Group I Report "The Physical Science Basis" - Working Group II Report "Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability" - Working Group III Report "Mitigation of Climate Change" IPAM (Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amazônia, Amazon Institute of Environmental Research)
NCAR/UCAR Free podcasts on climate and climate change
The Encyclopedia of Earth (peer reviewed articles about earth) U.S. Climate Change Science Program Synthesis and Assessment reports General Impacts Measurements / Observations Mitigation / Adaptation References by Section

Links of Interest:

General

Impacts

Measurements / Observations

Mitigation / Adaptation

References by Section