Climate change alters the ecological impacts of seasons.
Experts have collected and analyzed temperatures of monthly and yearly averages reveals daily and annual minimum and maximum temperatures have increased across the world since 1950. Further, scientists estimate that the largest temperature changes occurred from 1975-2013.The researchers compiled information from two continents and used a mathematical technique to describe changes from day to night and winter and summer.
Based on the information collected, the article concludes warmer global temperatures could confuse migration patterns of birds and mammals worldwide and affect food supplies if crops are unable to grow in the climate. However, the research did find that the most dramatic changes are furthest from the oceans, where warmer winters have occurred. The most prominent patterns have occurred in Canada and Russia with an increase in winter temperatures.
However, the article’s primary Michael Dillon explains, “[f]or these temperature zones that we historically think of as having lower daily variations relative to the annual variations in temperatures… has not changed much in the last 30 to 40 years.”
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2014-10-climate-ecological-impacts-seasons.html#jCp (Links to an external site.)
Based on the information collected, the article concludes warmer global temperatures could confuse migration patterns of birds and mammals worldwide and affect food supplies if crops are unable to grow in the climate. However, the research did find that the most dramatic changes are furthest from the oceans, where warmer winters have occurred. The most prominent patterns have occurred in Canada and Russia with an increase in winter temperatures.
However, the article’s primary Michael Dillon explains, “[f]or these temperature zones that we historically think of as having lower daily variations relative to the annual variations in temperatures… has not changed much in the last 30 to 40 years.”
- October 9, 2014 in Earth/Environmenthttp://phys.org/news/2014-10-climate-ecological-impacts-seasons.html
- Provided by Max Planck Society
- Wang, G.; Dillon, Michael E. Recent geographic convergence in diurnal and annual temperature cycling flattens global thermal profiles. Nature Climate Change; online advance publication 28 September 2014; DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2378
Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2014-10-climate-ecological-impacts-seasons.html#jCp (Links to an external site.)
REFLECTION
This initial assignment was a primer for the class and exercised the student’s research skills. Each student was asked to conduct a search of the Database EBSCOhost using PCC’s Shatford Library services and find a unique peer reviewed research article about how Earth’s seasons are affected by climate change. The student was asked to summarize the major research findings and comment on the research’s potential limitations.
The assignment not only helped develop the student’s use of the library and searches, it demonstrated a comprehension of scientific methodology. It was important that each student learned to research in this manner because as the course continued we have often been asked to collect data using this method.
Although I have used PCC’s Shatford Library for other classes, this was the first time I went into these specific collections. It allowed me to broaden my research skills.
The other major academic focus in completing this assignment was on absorbing the information and writing a summary in the student’s own words. Although it can be easy to review an article and retell the information, when scientific information is involved it takes a higher level of thought and skill not to plagiarize.
This assignment specifically helped develop me develop and meet the course’s first learning outcome “[d]emonstrate scientific literacy by analyzing and interpreting physical geography data…” and the third performance objective “[c]omprehend scientific methodology and its limitations” as stated on the course Syllabus.
The assignment not only helped develop the student’s use of the library and searches, it demonstrated a comprehension of scientific methodology. It was important that each student learned to research in this manner because as the course continued we have often been asked to collect data using this method.
Although I have used PCC’s Shatford Library for other classes, this was the first time I went into these specific collections. It allowed me to broaden my research skills.
The other major academic focus in completing this assignment was on absorbing the information and writing a summary in the student’s own words. Although it can be easy to review an article and retell the information, when scientific information is involved it takes a higher level of thought and skill not to plagiarize.
This assignment specifically helped develop me develop and meet the course’s first learning outcome “[d]emonstrate scientific literacy by analyzing and interpreting physical geography data…” and the third performance objective “[c]omprehend scientific methodology and its limitations” as stated on the course Syllabus.