Climate change

About this virtual field trip

In this virtual field trip you'll:

• discover what climate change is and how the greenhouse effect works
• explore how fossil fuels and greenhouse gases contribute to climate change
• explore how people are responding to climate change
• investigate how melting ice and rising sea levels are linked to climate change
• learn how scientists observe and measure changes in our climate.

Video series

Introduction to climate change

Climate change: The great woollen blanket

Featured expert: James Renwick, climate change scientist, Victoria University of Wellington.

Main themes

• What climate change is.
• What fossil fuels are.
• How greenhouse gases affect the Earth's climate.
• The relationship between human activity and the changing climate.

Key takeaways

• Greenhouse gases act like a blanket around the Earth, trapping heat.
• Increasing greenhouse gases contribute to climate change.

Fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect

Featured expert: Professor Dave Frame, climate change, Victoria University of Wellington.

Main themes

• Fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect.
• How greenhouse gases build up and affect Earth's climate.

Key takeaways

• Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases.
• Reducing reliance on fossil fuels is an important part of responding to climate change.
• Reducing reliance on fossil fuels will take a long time.

Watching the ice melt

Featured expert: Gregor, climate expert, NIWA.

Main themes

• How weather stations collect climate data across New Zealand.
• The difference between short-term weather observations and long-term climate patterns.
• Using data collected over many years to understand a region's climate.

Key takeaways

• Long-term weather observations and supercomputers help scientists build a picture of climate change over time.
• New Zealand is warming.

Gordon's gases and other scientific observations

Featured expert: Gordon Brailsford, climate scientist, NIWA.

Main themes

• Measuring and analysing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
• Carbon dioxide fingerprinting to identify where it's coming from.

Key takeaways

• Scientists measure atmospheric carbon dioxide to understand changes in the atmosphere.
• Carbon dioxide is increasing in the atmosphere in New Zealand.

Schools strike for climate

Main themes

• Why young people are concerned about climate change.
• The School Strike for Climate movement.

Key takeaways

• Collective action can raise awareness and encourage change.
• Students can participate directly in climate action.

Rising sea

Featured expert: Glen Rowe, LINZ.

Main themes

• Measuring tides and sea levels.
• Collecting long-term data to identify changes in sea level and tidal movements.

Key takeaways

• Tide gauges measure the timing and height of high and low tides.
• Data collected from tide gauges provide evidence of sea level rise and the impact of climate change.

Collecting air samples at Baring Head

Featured expert: Gordon Brailsford, climate scientist, NIWA.

Main themes

• Collecting and analysing air samples at Baring Head since 1972.
• Using specialised equipment to identify gases and measure their concentrations.

Key takeaways

• Automated equipment detects which gases are present and how much is in the atmosphere.
• Long-term measurements help scientists understand how the atmosphere is changing over time.

CO₂ bag test at Baring Head

Featured expert: Gordon Brailsford, climate scientist, NIWA.

Main themes

• Measuring carbon dioxide levels from a plant.
• Exploring the role plants play in the carbon cycle.

Key takeaways

• Plants absorb CO₂ and release oxygen.
• Plants are an important part of removing CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Key messages across the video series

1. Greenhouse gases affect Earth's climate

Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat and help keep Earth warm. Increasing the amount of these gases is causing the planet to warm.

2. Human activities are increasing greenhouse gases

Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and is a major contributor to human- caused climate change.

3. Scientists measure how our climate is changing

Scientists collect long term measurements and observations of greenhouse gases, temperature, ice and other environmental changes to understand changes to Earth's climate.

4. Climate change is affecting ice and sea levels

As the Earth warms, glaciers and ice sheets melt and oceans warm, contributing to rising sea levels.

Overall LINZ connection

The LINZ contribution focuses on helping people understand:

• how accurate location information helps measure environmental change
• how long-term measurements provide evidence of changes occuring over time
• how location information supports planning and decision making as New Zealand responds to climate change.

More resources

Find resources related to field trips and location information:

Resources for LEARNZ virtual field trips