Disappearing Winter Snowpack
Articles/Websites
Grades6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12Earth and Space Sciences
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Provided by The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)
What it is
- This article explains how climate change has caused a decrease in snowpack in the western United States.
- Students will learn about the importance of snowpack to surrounding ecosystems, municipal water supplies, agriculture, and hydropower generation.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This article analyzes the impacts of the reduced snowpack.
- The data and images provided in the article are great visuals to have students interpret and discuss.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand how hydropower works.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Science classes can use this article during a unit on the water cycle. Students could identify the different sources of water for drinking, power generation, and recreation.
- Teachers can ask students to think about the energy sources that are likely to replace hydropower if the snowpack continues to disappear. Students could discuss which of the alternative energy sources are sustainable.
- Math or science classes can use the map showing trends in snowpack in the Western US to discuss percent change. Teachers should reinforce the fact that positive percent change is in blue and that negative percent change is in red and explain what this means for snowpack trends.
- As an extension, have students use this interactive mapping tool to investigate changes in precipitation around the world and then come up with an action plan for adapting to this side effect of climate change.
From the scientist review
Data showed a marked increase in natural gas usage in California (2012-2014), which raises a big concern to take immediate action to transition to clean-tech energy usage. The resource is recommended.
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