The Sea Is Moving in on New Jersey's Biggest Landfill
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Provided by: The Nation|Published on: April 27, 2021
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This video shows students that some landfills in New Jersey will likely be partially underwater or completely underwater in this century.
- The video identifies that the Meadowlands area and the Middlesex County landfill are both at risk of inundation due to sea level rise.
Subjects: Social Studies, Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: The Nation
Region: North Jersey, Central Jersey
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Large font text accompanies the narration, and there are many clips of the trash sites discussed in the video.
- The aerial maps showing how far inland the ocean will come at high tide are very helpful.
Prerequisites
- There are ads before the video.
- The video discusses Superstorm Sandy, so you may want to provide some information about that hurricane for context.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Social studies and civics classes can use this video to discuss the role of governments and regulations in protecting the public and planning for natural disasters.
- Science classes can use this video as a hook for lessons about sea level rise, decomposition, coastal ecosystems, and water pollution.
- This video brings up a social justice topic that can be explored further: landfill locations and waste management in New Jersey and around the world.
- Other resources to consider on this topic include this #Trashtag article, this interactive resource about living within the planet's boundaries, and this interactive mapping tool by the Nature Conservancy.
This video spotlights two scenarios on the impact of sea level rise on landfills in New Jersey. In a changing climate, and as shown in the two models, the maps provide critical information for efficient coastal planning and management of sea level rise in New Jersey's coastal communities. This is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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