Climate Tipping Points are Closer Than Once Thought

• This article details some of the climate tipping points that could be crossed in the near future and the effects they could have on the planet. 
• Students will learn about the risks of climate tipping points to ocean circulation patterns, ice sheets, forests, and coral reefs. 

Positives

• The images and graphics in the article may support and improve comprehension.
  
• Students will be able to explore additional information from the IPCC or journal articles that are linked in the article.
  

Additional Prerequisites

• Students would benefit from a general understanding of what climate tipping points are and the positive feedback loops that may contribute to them. 
  

Differentiation

• Cross-curricular connections can be made in health classes that are learning about how human health may be affected by climate change or in social studies classes discussing the location and local effects of the different tipping points around the globe. 
• After reading, have students work individually or in groups to research one of the tipping points from the article.
• As an extension, curate a list of tipping points and encourage students to "adopt" one and advocate for increased knowledge in their social circles.
• Earth science classes can use this to support lessons about global wind circulation patterns, ocean circulation patterns and drivers of the ocean conveyor belt, and sea level rise.
• Biology classes can use this article to connect to lessons about methane, the carbon cycle, positive feedback loops, arctic ecosystems, forest ecology, and marine ecosystems.
  

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