Explore local climate change and nature with middle school students, in a new lesson packet, “Climate Change in San Diego’s Environment:  Lessons in Schoolyards and on Field Trips.” ClimateChg_LessonsGr6-8

How will San Diego be impacted by climate change?

The report, “San Diego, 2050 is Calling. How will we answer?”   (http://www.sandiego.edu/2050/) identifies four likely impacts:

• Drought: Warming, compounded by less frequent precipitation, will worsen droughts and threaten our imported and local water sources. (10-11)
• Increased temperatures: We expect to experience hotter and more humid heat waves and less frequent but more intense rainfall. (8-9)
• Flooding: Extreme high tides and winter storms magnified by sea level rise will result in more frequent and widespread coastal flooding. (pgs 12-13)
• Wildfires: Wildfire seasons may be longer and more extreme, with warming (pages 14-15)

Climate change resources

• List of more than 30 local and national climate education resources, ClimateChg_ResourcesSD
• Science and information about climate change, www.climate.gov
• Science and climate change, http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
• Facts and other “vital signs” of the planet, http://climate.nasa.gov/
• Climate Science Alliance – San Diego, http://www.climatesciencealliance.org