Changing Planet: Melting Mountain Glaciers

NBC Learn video - Changing Planet, Windows to the Universe

This NBC Learn video features climate scientists doing their research on Mt. Kilimanjaro to study the climate of the past. The scientists put the recently observed changes on the glacier into perspective by comparing past climate fluctuations, stressing that the current observed rate of change is unprecedented. Note: you will need to scroll down the Changing Planet video page to get to this video.

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Notes from our reviewers

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Video can be used as a hook to the accompanying learning activity [http://www.windows2universe.org/teacher_resources/melting_glaciers.html] or for any class on climate change. Important to bring the topic of effects of global warming to the local level and not only point out how global warming will affect cultures far away. One of the only videos about Mt. Kilimanjaro specifically.
Video addresses impact of melting glaciers, in particular atop Mt. Kilimanjaro, on fresh water supply and the economy of populations at its base. The video also addresses the shrinking of the glacier on Mt. Kilimanjaro via melting and sublimation attributed in part to decrease in precipitation in East Africa and Indian Ocean as surface temperatures rise. Comment from expert scientist: The included video is good and presents good introductory level information about glaciers and how they are changing.
Lesson Plan Changing Planet: Melting Glaciers accompanies video on UCAR site- [http://www.windows2universe.org/teacher_resources/melting_glaciers.html] Like other NBC Learn videos in the Changing Planet series, there is a nice mix of footage in the field and interviews with practicing, well-respected scientists.