slides from a visit I had with 6th grade science class, covering climate change, impacts on corals (temperature extremes and ocean acidification), and including a segment on "What kids can do" to help solve climate change. Delivered Dec 2018.

1. Corals and
Climate Change
Dr. Kim Cobb
Georgia Tech

2. close-up of the coral animal
coral colonies made
of “polyps”

3. corals contain photosynthetic algae
that are “food factories” for the coral

4. 57F

5. 59F

6. today = 405 parts
per million
67F

7. Hottest years
on record:
#1 2016
#2 2015
#3 2014
#4 2010
#5 2013
#6 2005
#7 2009
#8 1998
#9 2012
#10 2007
http://berkeleyearth.org/global-temperatures-2017/
Our oceans are warming

8. my lab
Google Earth

9. Christmas Island
Fanning Island
Palmyra Island

10. Corals stressed by:
1) rising ocean temperatures
(follow link for 2min video)
2) ocean acidification

11. How does atmospheric
CO2 affect ocean pH?

13. Carbonic acid
breaks down
carbonate, which
corals and shellfish
use to build homes.

14. from the Smithsonian:
http://ocean.si.edu/
ocean-acidification

15. What’s next for the world’s coral reefs?

16. That depends on US!

17. How can kids help?
1) conserve electricity
2) don’t waste food
3) eat less beef
4) don’t drink bottled water
5) bike or walk to school 1 day/week
6) plant trees at your home, school, park

18. Plants remove half
or our CO2 every year!
Let’s help nature
help us by planting
more trees!

19. My family
planting our
baby tree
with Trees
Atlanta
March 2, 2018

20. And most of all,
talk about climate change.
with your parents
principal
teachers
friends