CLIMATE CHANGE

See also the GLOBAL WARMING page...

This is an issue which has a huge range of coverage on the web. The important thing is to remember to provide various views, but is this an issue where that alternative viewpoint is difficult to find ?

It's important to visit the site of the IPCC. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

For an opposing view visit ECEF. There is also the sceptical viewpoint put forward by people such as Bjorn Lomborg.

See the GLOBAL WARMING page above for most of the links you will need.

One of the ways that people can get involved in collecting evidence about Climate Change in the UK is to join the

UK Phenology Network.

This is a growing network of thousands of observers who collect details about the appearance of certain plant and animal species. They note whether certain events happen earlier or later in particular years. These include the following details:

Spring Flowering: including Snowdrop and Blackthorn.

Birds: nest building, arrival of the Cuckoo, Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Turtle Dove, Fieldfare, House Martin, Nightingale, Redwing, Rook, Swallow, Swift, Song Thrush, Blue Tit, Great Tit

The date that the lawn was first cut, or whether it was cut all year round.

Trees: Spring events relating to the Alder, Ash, Beech, Birch, Blackberry, Horse Chestnut, Elder, Hawthorn, Hazel, Holly, Ivy, Larch, Oak, Rowan, Sycamore

Flowers: Celandine, Bluebell, Colt's Foot, Primrose, Snowdrop

Autumn: Trees - leaves turning & fruiting.

Insects: Bumble bee, Wasp, Ladybird - 7 spot, Butterflies

Go to the website and sign up - there's a record number of observers at the moment. Just got my new Spring 2005 recording sheet and there are a number of new exciting developments. The first thing is the addition of a recording sheet to put up on the fridge door, complete with fridge magnet. There's also a new website to encourage children to take part in recording - a sheet of stickers has been provided and a leaflet with details on the new website: NATURE DETECTIVES.

The site is EXCELLENT. It has interactive maps, desktop wallpapers and details on monthly activities. The Interactive maps are well worth checking out. Recommended.

Sign up and get involved !!

IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Visit the GCSE GLOBAL WARMING page, which has lots of additional links that aren't replicated on this page...

Try the Irish ENFO site for an introduction to the issue.
Go to CO2 for information on Climate Care: why you should care about climate. You can download a Powerpoint presentation on Global Warming.
If you're going on holiday by air, the plane in which you fly will produce huge amounts of carbon dioxide. There are a few sites where you can calculate how much damage the flight causes, including CARBON CALCULATOR. Try CHOOSECLIMATE.ORG too for a similar service.
An excellent site, although undoubtedly one with its own agenda is CLIMATE ARK. This has some excellent graphics which would be useful for a project on Climate Change.
A useful recent article on the BBC on the potential role of methane in stopping the Ice Age in its tracks. Go to the BBC site for the article and links to other relevant information.
Go HERE to download the CLIMATE CHANGE KIT. This is an excellent document which has information on all the key areas.
Try the Scottish LEARNING AND TEACHING site for Climate Change. It's a free online interactive resource aimed at people between 9 and 14, which was featured in the OS Mapping News newsletter.

November 2004: Wasp found by Inuits inside the Arctic Circle - they apparently didn't know what it was as they'd never seen one before. This is yet another tiny sign of climate change - the evidence is mounting.

LESSON PLANS

1. Lesson notes for Effects of Climate Change in the UK.

2. Go to the EU CARTO PAGE. This has links to some great images and maps, but down the left column there are a series of activities related to CLIMATE CHANGE. An excellent resource.

RETURN TO A2 METEOROLOGY PAGE