The simulation will help students understand glacier mass balances and the effects of climate change on glaciers because students can manipulate different parameters to see the effect over time.
Tools are provided in the animation to measure glacial thickness, glacier velocity, and glacial budget.
Additional Prerequisites
The activity page has other labs, lessons, and activities that can go with the simulation, but you must register for a free account to access them.
The simulation is not self-explanatory. Teachers will need to practice using the tool before showing students how to use it.
Some Mac/OS users may have trouble running the simulation.
Differentiation
The simulation has two different levels, introduction and advanced, for middle school and high school students.
The simulation is available in 35 languages. To view the simulation in another language, click on the Translations tab below.
After working with the simulation, students can write a paragraph explaining what they learned about glaciers from the simulation.
Math classes can use this simulation to estimate future effects by drawing a graph of the data and then using a best-fit line to estimate future conditions.
Scientist Notes
This web-based simulator allows students to see how rainfall rate and average sea level temperature can affect the growth of a glacier. These two factors are critical to the development of glaciers. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Science
ESS2: Earth's Systems
6.ESS2.4 Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.
7.ESS2.1 Develop a model to describe the cycling of Earth’s materials and the flow of energy that drives this process.
HS.ESS2.2 Analyze geoscience data to make the claim that one change to Earth’s surface can create feedbacks that cause changes to other Earth systems.
HS.ESS2.5 Plan and conduct an investigation of the properties of water and its effects on Earth materials and surface processes.
