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Listen & Learn: Polar Vortex

8th January 2025 by Jaksyn Peacock
vortex

Pre-listening vocabulary

  • pressure: a measure of force per unit area
  • circulate: to move in a circular pattern
  • pole: one of the two ends of the Earth’s axis of rotation
  • atmosphere: the layer of gas that surrounds the Earth
  • temperate: typically having mild temperatures
  • pattern: a regular, predictable series of events

Listening activity

Gapfill exercise

A polar vortex is an area of low-pressure that circulates at the Earth’s poles. The winds of a polar vortex are very in the atmosphere, and they contain some of the Earth’s coldest air. The northern and southern vortexes are always there, but changes in the winds can affect around the world. When the winds weaken, they affect lower belts of air called polar jet streams. If a polar vortex is not strong enough to hold the winds in place, the jet stream can grow and irregular. Unusually cold winters can happen when jet streams spread cold polar air to more temperate regions. It is possible that climate change will affect the polar vortex by weakening the polar winds over time. This could change the way that many regions experience and create new extreme weather patterns, both hot and cold.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

  1. A polar vortex is an area of
    a. high-pressure wind
    b. low-pressure wind
    c. high-temperature wind
  2. The polar vortexes
    a. appear only during the winter
    b. appear every seven years
    c. are always there
  3. When the polar winds weaken, temperate regions will likely experience
    a. warmer winters
    b. warmer summers
    c. colder winters

Discussion/essay questions

  1. Has your region experienced any effects of climate change? What are leaders doing about it? Do you think they should be doing more? Why or why not?

Transcript

A polar vortex is an area of low-pressure wind that circulates at the Earth’s poles. The winds of a polar vortex are very high in the atmosphere, and they contain some of the Earth’s coldest air. The northern and southern vortexes are always there, but changes in the winds can affect temperatures around the world. When the winds weaken, they affect lower belts of air called polar jet streams. If a polar vortex is not strong enough to hold the winds in place, the jet stream can grow wide and irregular. Unusually cold winters can happen when jet streams spread cold polar air to more temperate regions. It is possible that climate change will affect the polar vortex by weakening the polar winds over time. This could change the way that many regions experience seasons and create new extreme weather patterns, both hot and cold.

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2c 3c

Listen&Learn: The Solar Corona

3rd April 2024 by Jaksyn Peacock
Solar Eclipse
The Sun’s corona during a total solar eclipse

Pre-listening vocabulary

  • atmosphere: the layer of gas surrounding a planet or star
  • puzzle: a situation that is difficult to understand
  • chaotic: confusing and unpredictable
  • magnetic: having a strong force of attraction
  • monitor: to watch something carefully
  • eclipse: an event where the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun
  • obscure: to make something hard to see

Listening activity

Gapfill exercise

The outer atmosphere of the Sun is called the corona. It is a thin layer of charged gas that extends for millions of . It is actually about 300 times than the Sun’s surface, which is an ongoing puzzle for scientists. The corona is a chaotic environment, and it sometimes releases large amounts of magnetic matter into space. This is called a coronal mass ejection, or CME. Scientists monitor CMEs because they can damage the grid on Earth. Most of the time, the corona is to see with the naked eye. The surface of the Sun is so that it completely outshines the light from the outer layers. However, the corona can be seen briefly during a total solar eclipse, when the Moon obscures the Sun from view.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

  1. The corona is
    a. 300 times cooler than the surface of the Sun
    b. 300 times hotter than the surface of the Sun
    c. 300 times cooler than the surface of the Earth
  2. On Earth, coronal mass ejections can cause
    a. severe storms
    b. extremely high temperatures
    c. damage to the power grid
  3. The corona is only visible during
    a. a CME
    b. a solar flare
    c. a total solar eclipse

Discussion/essay questions

  1. In 1859, a CME caused telegraph stations around the world to burn out. Because we depend so much on technology, a CME of the same size today would cause major damage. What do you think the world would be like without any modern technology?

Transcript

The outer atmosphere of the Sun is called the corona. It is a thin layer of charged gas that extends for millions of kilometres. It is actually about 300 times hotter than the Sun’s surface, which is an ongoing puzzle for scientists. The corona is a chaotic environment, and it sometimes releases large amounts of magnetic matter into space. This is called a coronal mass ejection, or CME. Scientists monitor CMEs because they can damage the power grid on Earth. Most of the time, the corona is impossible to see with the naked eye. The surface of the Sun is so bright that it completely outshines the light from the outer layers. However, the corona can be seen briefly during a total solar eclipse, when the Moon obscures the Sun from view.

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2c 3c

Listen&Learn: El NiƱo

28th February 2024 by Jaksyn Peacock
El Nino
Image: Zombiu26 Adobe Stock

Pre-listening vocabulary

  • pattern: something that repeats
  • ecosystem: a group of living things that depend on each other to survive
  • reverse: the opposite
  • hurricane: a strong tropical storm that begins over the ocean
  • phenomenon: an effect that happens naturally
  • average: the typical number of something

Listening activity

Gapfill exercise

El NiƱo is part of a weather pattern that begins in the Pacific Ocean. It happens when the west-travelling winds across the ocean grow weaker, causing surface waters to warm up in the east. This can affect ecosystems, , and temperatures around the world. During El NiƱo years, many places experience warmer winters. South American fishermen named the effect “El NiƱo,” or “the little boy,” after Jesus Christ, because they often observed in water temperature before Christmas. El NiƱo also has a reverse effect, called La NiƱa, which causes colder winters in the north and stronger hurricanes over the Atlantic. The full name that scientists use for the phenomenon is El NiƱo/Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. The Southern Oscillation is the change in pressure connected to El NiƱo and La NiƱa. El NiƱo and La NiƱa events happen every two to seven years on average.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

  1. El NiƱo is caused by
    a. human activity
    b. hurricanes
    c. weakened winds
  2. During El NiƱo events, warmer winters occur
    a. in the north
    b. in the south
    c. globally
  3. La NiƱa is the name for
    a. changes in air pressure in El NiƱo years
    b. a strong type of hurricane over the Atlantic
    c. the reverse effect to El NiƱo

Discussion/essay questions

  1. El NiƱo is a natural phenomenon unrelated to global climate change. However, some scientists predict that El NiƱo events may become more extreme as temperatures continue to rise. Have you experienced weather changes where you live? What do they look like?

Transcript

El NiƱo is part of a natural weather pattern that begins in the Pacific Ocean. It happens when the west-travelling winds across the ocean grow weaker, causing surface waters to warm up in the east. This can affect ecosystems, storms, and temperatures around the world. During El NiƱo years, many northern places experience warmer winters. South American fishermen named the effect “El NiƱo,” or “the little boy,” after Jesus Christ, because they often observed changes in water temperature before Christmas. El NiƱo also has a reverse effect, called La NiƱa, which causes colder winters in the north and stronger hurricanes over the Atlantic. The full name that scientists use for the phenomenon is El NiƱo/Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. The Southern Oscillation is the change in air pressure connected to El NiƱo and La NiƱa. El NiƱo and La NiƱa events happen every two to seven years on average.

Answers to comprehension questions

1c 2a 3c

Listen&Learn: The Ozone Layer

26th October 2022 by Jaksyn Peacock

Pre-listening vocabulary

  • atmosphere: the layers of gases that surround the Earth
  • ultraviolet: a type of invisible radiation
  • photon: a particle of light
  • cancer: a type of disease caused by abnormal cells forming in the body
  • artificial: unnatural, man-made
  • emission: the release of gas into the air

Listening activity

Gapfill exercise

The ozone layer is a layer of in the Earthā€™s atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. The molecules that make up ozone gas are made of three bonded oxygen atoms. Ozone forms when photons up molecules of oxygen gas. The ozone layer humans and animals from the harmful of UV radiation, including cancers. However, in the 1980s, scientists discovered a dangerously thin area in the ozone layer above Antarctica. This is commonly known as the ā€œozone holeā€. Artificial emissions of chlorine gases had destroyed many of the ozone molecules in the atmosphere. In 1987, a agreement known as the Montreal Protocol banned the use of certain chemicals in order to protect the ozone layer. Since then, the ozone hole has been shrinking.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

  1. The ozone layer absorbs
    a. visible light
    b. ultraviolet radiation
    c. debris from space
  2. Ozone is made up of
    a. bonded oxygen atoms
    b. bonded oxygen and chlorine atoms
    c. bonded oxygen and carbon atoms
  3. The “hole” in the ozone layer is above
    a. Australia
    b. North America
    c. Antarctica

Discussion/essay questions

  1. The quick action taken in 1987 prevented a global disaster. Do you think the world will be able to prevent climate change the same way?

Transcript

The ozone layer is a layer of gas in the Earthā€™s atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. The molecules that make up ozone gas are made of three bonded oxygen atoms. Ozone forms when photons break up molecules of oxygen gas. The ozone layer protects humans and animals from the harmful effects of UV radiation, including cancers. However, in the 1980s, scientists discovered a dangerously thin area in the ozone layer above Antarctica. This is commonly known as the ā€œozone holeā€. Artificial emissions of chlorine gases had destroyed many of the ozone molecules in the atmosphere. In 1987, a global agreement known as the Montreal Protocol banned the use of certain chemicals in order to protect the ozone layer. Since then, the ozone hole has been shrinking.

Answers to comprehension questions

1b 2a 3c

Listen&Learn: Auroras

28th July 2021 by Jaksyn Peacock
aurora

Pre-listening vocabulary

  • plasma: a type of gas with charged particles
  • collide: to run into something
  • atmosphere: the layer of gases around a planet
  • gas giant: a type of large planet that is mostly made of gas
  • ultraviolet: a type of light that is invisible to humans
  • solar: relating to the sun

Listening activity

Gapfill exercise

Auroras are bright that appear in the sky over the North and South Poles. They are commonly known as northern and southern lights. Auroras occur when particles of plasma shoot out of the sun and collide with in the Earthā€™s atmosphere. Different types of gas can create different colours of light. Oxygen creates green light, while nitrogen creates violet light. Auroras on other often have different colours because of the different gases that are in their atmospheres. On gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, auroras are ultraviolet. Although auroras are nice to look at, they can also be . The solar particles can cause damage to technology on Earth. Scientists hope to learn more about auroras so that they can prevent possible problems in the future.

Comprehension questions

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Discussion/essay questions

  1. Can you see auroras where you live? Would you ever travel to see them?

Transcript

Auroras are bright lights that appear in the sky over the North and South Poles. They are commonly known as northern and southern lights. Auroras occur when particles of plasma shoot out of the sun and collide with gases in the Earthā€™s atmosphere. Different types of gas can create different colours of light. Oxygen creates green light, while nitrogen creates violet light. Auroras on other planets often have different colours because of the different gases that are common in their atmospheres. On gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, auroras are ultraviolet. Although auroras are nice to look at, they can also be dangerous. The solar particles can cause damage to technology on Earth. Scientists hope to learn more about auroras so that they can prevent possible problems in the future.

Listen&Learn: Carbon Dating

10th March 2021 by Jaksyn Peacock

Pre-listening vocabulary

  • carbon: a common chemical element that is necessary for life
  • fossil: the remains of an organism that lived a long time ago
  • radioactivity: the ability of a substance to produce energy from the decay of its particles
  • decay: to break down or decompose
  • half-life: the amount of time it takes for half of a substance to completely decay
  • estimate: to make a reasonable guess
  • fossil fuels: natural fuels like oil or coal

Listening activity

Gapfill exercise

Carbon dating is a that scientists use to find out the age of a fossil. All living things consume forms of carbon throughout their lives. A type of carbon called carbon-14 is radioactive, which means that it decays over time. Living things usually absorb carbon-14 through natural carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since every radioactive substance decays at a specific rate, scientists can use a substanceā€™s half-life to find out how long it has . Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5700 years. Scientists can estimate an age for any fossil that has enough carbon-14 left to measure. However, carbon dating may become more as humans continue to use fossil fuels. Oil and put more stable carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which affects the amount of carbon-14 that living things absorb. If a plant or an animal does not contain enough carbon-14 to measure, then finding its age will be much harder.

Comprehension questions

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Discussion/essay questions

  1. Human fossil fuel use is a big issue. Carbon dioxide levels are getting higher, and climate change is going to affect the world in many ways. Are there any changes you’ve made in your life to help the environment? Are there changes you’d like to make in the future?

Transcript

Carbon dating is a process that scientists use to find out the age of a fossil. All living things consume forms of carbon throughout their lives. A rare type of carbon called carbon-14 is radioactive, which means that it decays over time. Living things usually absorb carbon-14 through natural carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Since every radioactive substance decays at a specific rate, scientists can use a substanceā€™s half-life to find out how long it has existed. Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5700 years. Scientists can estimate an age for any fossil that has enough carbon-14 left to measure. However, carbon dating may become more difficult as humans continue to use fossil fuels. Oil and coal put more stable carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which affects the amount of carbon-14 that living things absorb. If a plant or an animal does not contain enough carbon-14 to measure, then finding its age will be much harder.