Climate Detectives Projects 2020-2021

    Project topic: Deforestation

    Project title: Climate detectives

    Team: Bellahoej Skole Copenhagen Denmark

    Bellahoej Skole   Copenhagen   Denmark   100 50Student’s age: 10-11 years old, 12-13 years old, 14-15 years old


    Research question

    How may we detect climat change. We want to understand these changes. We will try to answer how we may stop those changes, that are caused by humans.

    Summary of the project
    Blooming in the Baltic sea

    • We have made experiments and learned theory from
    • THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES, We have used an IR camera to measure the albedo. We have explained the effect of greenhouse gasses. We have discussed how to reduce greenhouse gasses by changing from fossil fuel into renewable energy.

    • SEA ICE FROM SPACE -We have made experiments with salty water ice to understand the life of alge inside and to understand the motor of the highways of the ocean. We have studied the retreat of the polar sea ice here Sea ice | Copernicus , and here Sea Ice Concentration (AMSR-E/AMSR2) (uni-bremen.de)
    • HIGHWAYS OF THE OCEANS – We have made experiments to understand how the salty water does sink and how this leads to s the water sink
    • AFTER THE STORM – We have studied how hurricanes get their energy from warm seawater. We have learned that more energy in the ocean and the atmosphere may lead to floods and droughts
    • 14 and 15-year-old pupils have used the EO browser to detect climate change: Glaciers becoming smaller over time, floods and droughts, wildfires, Bare soil in Tropical jungle, Air pollution with NO2 and CH4, Great Barrier Rief losing color
    • 10 years old children have used the tool: https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/
    • In December 90 pupils at Bellahoej Skole in Copenhagen made experiments with ice and IR-light and leaned theory from the ESERO. I am not the Teacher. I am teaching in a school planetarium at Bellahoej Skole. I was teaching each of these 4 classes two times 90. Minutes in November.
    • In January the pupils worked in groups with climate problems, they had formulated. Because of corona close down the groups had to be at home and communicate online. I advised many groups online. Many groups used the EO browser to show climate change: Glaciers becoming smaller over time, floods and droughts, wildfires, Bare soil in Tropical jungle, Air pollution with NO2 and CH4, Great Barrier Rief losing color.
    • Some groups made very fine exploration with the EO browser. They showed their results to their classes. They also formulated what they suggested to be done: Change from fossil energy to renewable energy. A stop from buying palm oil and soya and illegal wood.
    • After the 2-week project in January, the classes had other tasks to do. I har hoped that the best groups wanted to continue their climate project. But the pupils told me that they could not find the time.
    • Because I am not their teacher, just an adviser in this project, I could not keep them in this project. Another problem was that all the pupils were at home for nearly 4 months.
    • Two classes of 10 years old pupils also made experiments in November two lessons. They made very good experiments. Because of the lockdown I lost contact with them.
    • In April I advised 28 15 years old pupils in their projects with climate change – some of the lessons online, and some of the lessons in the school. All of the groups made good projects. They also formulated their suggestions to stop climate change. Some of the groups used the EObroser in their exploration. But next week they have to do other projects with their teachers.

    Main results and Conclusions

    • https://www.boernafgalileo.dk/skriv.htm
    • This is the website of my planetarium Stjernekammeret. Here I have made guides in the danish language on how to use the EO-browser and https://earthengine.google.com/timelapse/
    • I also show images downloaded from the EO browser as examples of which exploration you can do. You also find a file with images of deforestation from the EO browser. Also a file with images from experiments from climate detectives.

    What’s Next? Actions to help lessen the problem

    One group showed that Glaciers in Greenland were retreating: Action: Change from fossil fuel to renewable energy
    One Group documented deforestation of the jungle and planting of oil palms. Action: Stop buying products with palm oil. Stop adding palm oil to diesel fuel.
    One group showed the blooming of Alge in the Baltic Sea. Action: Do not use so much fertilizer in agriculture.
    One group documented more extreme weather: extra dry seasons and extra much rain and more tropical hurricanes: Action: Renewable energy to reduce CO2

    Project link:

    https://www.boernafgalileo.dk/skriv.htm



    Projects are created by the teams and they take the full responsibility of the shared data.
    ← All projects