InTeGrate Modules and Courses >Climate of Change > Student Materials > Unit 1 Study Guide
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These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
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For the Instructor

These student materials complement the Climate of Change Instructor Materials. If you would like your students to have access to the student materials, we suggest you either point them at the Student Version which omits the framing pages with information designed for faculty (and this box). Or you can download these pages in several formats that you can include in your course website or local Learning Managment System. Learn more about using, modifying, and sharing InTeGrate teaching materials.
Initial Publication Date: October 24, 2013

Unit 1: Climate Variability and Change

In this unit, you have considered climate factors that affected ancient cultures. This study guide provides an opportunity to test your understanding of some of the concepts you have learned, as well as new vocabulary. Test yourself by quizzing yourself on the terms with the definitions hidden below and by answering the concept questions.

New Vocabulary or Terminology:

  • climate (how is it different from weather?)
  • climate variability
  • climate system
  • forced climate change
  • unforced climate change
  • feedback

Conceptual Questions

  1. What factors affect the climate of a particular region?
  2. What external forcing mechanisms can cause a change in global climate?
  3. When is a climate feedback positive or negative? (Be able to draw a diagram of both.)

Climate Forecasting and Adaptation through the ages

The questions below test how well you can recall details about the article you read. The article contains other questions that focus more on applying your understanding and considering new perspectives. While those questions do not have specific "right" answers, it would be worth reviewing them, along with your class notes or discussion about those questions, after you have considered the questions below.

Recall Questions

  1. Describe how the people of the Andes determined when to plant their crops.
  2. Where did the Mayans live?
  3. What are climate proxies?
  4. How can lake sediments provide information about past climate?
  5. What is the prevailing hypothesis regarding collapse of the Mayan civilization?
  6. Over the past 5000 years, at least four different groups of people have inhabited Greenland. Where did they all come from?
  7. How did Dr. D'Andrea reconstruct a record of air temperature in Greenland?
  8. Why did the Vikings abandon Greenland?


These materials are part of a collection of classroom-tested modules and courses developed by InTeGrate. The materials engage students in understanding the earth system as it intertwines with key societal issues. The collection is freely available and ready to be adapted by undergraduate educators across a range of courses including: general education or majors courses in Earth-focused disciplines such as geoscience or environmental science, social science, engineering, and other sciences, as well as courses for interdisciplinary programs.
Explore the Collection »