Why the Arctic Is Climate Change's Canary in the Coal Mine
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Physics, Earth and Space Sciences
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Provided by TED-Ed
What it is
- This video and article explains how melting ice and warming temperatures in the Arctic are often an early indicator for impacts elsewhere.
- Students will learn about positive and negative feedback loops, the albedo effect, and what melting ice in the Arctic means for the global climate.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The animated video is engaging and easy to understand.
- The interactive questions reinforce key ideas and are a great way for students to independently check their understanding.
Additional Prerequisites
- An ad plays before the video.
- A TED-Ed account is needed to access the interactive questions and use the discussion feature; accounts are free but students must be 13 or older to register.
Differentiation
- Science classes could use this resource as a introduction to reflectivity, feedback loops, the albedo effect, equilibrium, or homeostasis.
- As an extension activity, have students research examples of other feedback loops that impact climate change and present their findings.
- Other related resources include this lesson on feedback loops, this article about feedback loops fueling wildfires, and this video about how a warmer Arctic will intensify global warming.
From the scientist review
The Arctic is warming faster than any other place on the globe. As such, it is seeing a larger increase in extreme weather events. This resource from TED-Ed discusses some feedback loops that affect the Arctic. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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