Video
How Warming Leads to Sea Level Rise
Descriptive Transcript
Hands spread a crumpled piece of paper on a light brown surface. The paper reads, “So we know that climate change causes glaciers to melt…”
Hands crumple and open the paper again. It now reads, “Which makes sea levels rise.”
Hands crumple and open the paper again. The paper reads, “But did you know there’s more to it?”
Hands crumple and open the paper again. It now reads, “Have you ever seen this demo?”
Hands now hold two instruments. One has a steel ball at the end. The other a ring. The ball is able to pass through the ring snugly.
Hands crumple and open another piece of paper. It reads, “But watch what happens when you warm the metal ball.”
The metal ball at the end of the instrument is heated with an open flame. Now the metal ball is unable to pass through the ring at all.
Hands crumple and open another piece of paper. It reads, “So heat makes a solid expand, but…”
Hands crumple and open the paper again. It now reads, “Does water expand when you warm it?”
Hands crumple and open the paper once more. It now reads, “Let’s find out!”
A list of supplies is shown, which includes a water bottle painted black to absorb heat that is filled with water dyed blue, and has a drinking straw glued through the cap. A ruler is also shown, along with a lamp for heating water (a hair dryer works too!)
The water is heated with the lamp and a time lapse of ten minutes shows the blue water rising through the clear straw by nearly 4 centimeters.
Hands crumple and open another piece of paper. It reads, “So as we warm the atmosphere, we also warm the oceans.”
Hands crumple and open the paper again. It now reads, “And it can cause sea level rise to occur.”
Hands crumple and open the paper again. It now reads, “Scientists estimate that about 40% of recent sea level rise...”
Hands crumple and open the paper once more. It now reads, “Is due to warming of the oceans.”
Hands crumple and open another piece of paper. It reads, “This warming affects coastlines…”
Hands crumple and open the paper once more, revealing a drawing of earth. Numerous coastal locations around the world are highlighted.
National Park Service Climate Change Response Program
Directed by: Regan Alsup and Tim Watkins
Produced and Edited by: Regan Alsup
Ocean Warming statistic according to the IPCC report “Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis”.
For more information visit www.nps.gov/climatechange
Description
This video demonstrates how warming the ocean causes sea level to rise. Made to accompany another video about melting glaciers and sea level rise, this video illustrates for educators a simple hands-on activity to use with students of all ages.
Duration
3 minutes, 3 seconds
Copyright and Usage Info