Earth Science: Human impact on the environment

This climate change simulation app allows users to model scenarios of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the current century and simulates the first-order response of the earth system.  The app is freely available and there are tutorials to explain how it works. 

Earth Science: Human Impact on the Environment.

The distribution of human populations and use of resources over time has been largely influenced by the Earth’s geography and climate. At the same time, the decisions humans make about where to live and how they use the Earth’s resources has and will continue to have significant impact on the Earth’s climate and geography. In this unit, students will analyze and create topographic maps of human cities as they consider how geographical features such as oceans, lakes, and mountains have influenced where humans have chosen to live. Students will also make predictions about how changes in the Earth’s surface features that may take place—whether due to climate change or other factors—can influence the migration of human populations in the future.

This unit includes a performance task, supports for constructing scientific explanations, Regents-aligned questions, and is organized into inquiry-based 5E model plans. It is part of the New Visions Earth Science Curriculum.

Earth Science: Human Impact on the Environment.

Lessons and hands-on activities to explore climate from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies.

Earth Science: Human Impact on the Environment.