After the lecture the Tuesday morning was dedicated to active LEARNning and the students INVESTIGATEd effects of global warming on a regional and global scale. The multnational groups worked parallel on three different stations on the following subjects:
- Analyzing Climate Change: Insights from Valmorea’s Weather Station Data
- Exploring Climate Action with En-ROADS: Small Steps, Big Impact
- Melting Glaciers: A Simple Experiment
Analyzing Climate Change: Insights from Valmorea’s Weather Station Data
Our project focused on examining local climate trends using data from the Valmorea weather station. The dataset included detailed graphics on temperature, rainfall, and humidity, allowing us to compare conditions between 2024 and 2025.
We used the following methodology:
- Initial Observations: We identified key differences in temperature and rainfall patterns between the two years.
- Data Analysis:
- Two team members extracted the highest monthly temperatures for our selected period.
- Another pair calculated the average monthly temperatures for 2024 and 2025, aiming to detect climate change impacts.
- Findings: The data revealed a notable increase in rainfall in 2025 compared to 2024, suggesting a link between climate change and more frequent extreme weather events.
This hands-on experience deepened our understanding of weather station operations and highlighted how climate change is already affecting our local environment. The project was not only educational but also engaging, reinforcing the importance of monitoring and addressing climate impacts in our community.
Exploring Climate Action with En-ROADS: Small Steps, Big Impact
The focus of this activity was on understanding the root causes of climate change and the power of everyday actions—often overlooked—that can drive meaningful change. Using the En-ROADS climate simulator (en-roads.climateinteractive.org), we explored two contrasting scenarios:- Scenario 1: Business as Usual If we continue our current resources use—relying heavily on coal and oil—the simulator projects a stark future: global temperatures could rise by 3.3°C. This outcome underscores the urgency of transforming our energy systems and consumption habits.
- Scenario 2: Ambitious Climate Action When we minimized pollution and transitioned to clean energy, the results were striking. The projected temperature increase dropped to 1.4°C, demonstrating that systemic change—such as phasing out fossil fuels, investing in carbon capture, and adopting renewable energy—can keep us within safe climate limits.
- Policy: Increase coal prices to discourage use and incentivize cleaner alternatives.
- Innovation: Develop technologies to capture greenhouse gases and reduce emissions from power plants.
- Societal Shift: Awareness and collective action are key. Only an informed, engaged society can drive the systemic changes needed for a sustainable future.
Melting Glaciers: A Simple Experiment
In our science class, we did an experiment to see what happens when glaciers melt. We wanted to understand the difference between ice melting on land and ice melting in water.
We used two containers. In the first one, we put water and some ice cubes floating on top. In the second one, we made a “piece of land” using a stand and put ice on it to look like a glacier on land. In the container with floating ice, the water level hardly changed as the ice melted, because floating ice already displaces its own weight in water. In the container with ice on the “land”, the water level rose as the meltwater ran into the water.
Melting sea ice barely affects sea level, but melting glaciers and ice sheets on land make the oceans rise. This is why the loss of mountain glaciers and of the ice in Greenland and Antarctica is so important for sea level rise. We really liked this experiment because it was interesting to see it happen with our own eyes. It made us curious, but also a little worried about what could happen if glaciers keep melting.
