The Math and Science of Changing Sea Levels

Registration begins 8:30 AM

Event begins 9:00 AM

Presenter: Emily Bogusch

Is the sea level rising—and if so, how fast? How do we know? What is causing the change in sea level? And why is it relevant to us in Arizona? The change in sea level can be examined by students in both math and science classrooms, and at multiple grade levels. Join us as we analyze various data types and satellite evidence related to sea level change. We will then learn more about this global issue through simple experiments involving water/phase changes, density, albedo, and geological models.

Instructional materials are provided by NASA, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) and the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES). Participants will be introduced to other instructional materials and free/low-cost professional growth opportunities these organizations offer educators at all levels.

Possible activities:

· Examining historical (20,000 years) sea level data through the notice and wonder protocol

· Determining rate-of-change from sea level data from tide gauges and satellite altimetry

· Creating graphical model of changing area of icecaps/shorelines using Landsat imagery

· Correlating sea level temperature and global sea level

· Modeling sea-level change due to melting land ice vs. sea ice

· Investigating the volume of cold vs warm water

· Modeling the feedback loop caused by melting icecaps and rising global temperature