These comprehensive education modules were created using curriculum developed by the USDA Forest Service Climate Change Advisor’s Office, Climate Change Education and Training Team and were previously published on the Forest Service Climate Change Resource Center website. The original modules featured interactive elements, hyperlinks for more information, and final activity quizzes with printable certificates of completion. Currently the modules are archival screen recording videos and interactive features, hyperlinks, and quizzes are not available. Please note that the modules and supporting information have not been updated since original publication.
Watch the module recordings on YouTube
Climate Change Science and Modeling
Climate Change Science and Modeling: What You Need to Know gives a brief overview of the climate system, greenhouse gases, climate models, current climate change impacts, and future projections.
Watch the Climate Change Science and Modeling recording on YouTube
Learning Objectives
By the end of Climate Change Science and Modeling, users should know:
- The difference between weather and climate
- Main greenhouse gases contributing to climate change
- How the greenhouse gas effect works
- The flow of carbon through the carbon cycle
- Examples of climate change impacts by region
- The components of climate models and the uncertainty associated with models
- Emissions scenarios storylines and representative concentration pathways
- Examples of projected future climate impacts
Information, Documentation, and Support
Citation for Original Module: Marcinkowski, K.; Swanston, C. 2014. Climate change science and modeling: what you need to know. An interactive education module from the Climate Change Resource Center. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-902. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station.
Climate Change Effects on Forests and Grasslands
Climate Change Effects on Forests and Grasslands: What You Need to Know gives a brief overview of current and projected climate change effects on water resources, vegetation, wildlife, and disturbances, specifically geared towards forest and grassland ecosystems.
Watch the Climate Change Effects on Forests and Grasslands recording on YouTube
Learning Objectives
By the end of Climate Change Effects on Forests and Grasslands, users should know:
- Likely interactions of climate change effects
- Examples of beneficial or stressful climate change effects on different ecosystems
- Variations in observed and projected changes and intensity of changes for regions around the country
- How changes in precipitation patterns, snow cover, and streamflows have been occurring around the country and are expected to continue changing during this century
- Examples of phenological changes associated with an increase in growing season length
- The basic processes of photosynthesis and carbon dioxide fertilization
- How temperature and precipitation changes may affect vegetation and wildlife habitat ranges
- About increased risks associated with disturbances like insects, invasives, and wildfire
Information, Documentation, and Support
Citation for Original Module: Marcinkowski, K.; Swanston, C. 2015. Climate change effects on forests and grasslands: what you need to know. An interactive education module from the Climate Change Resource Center. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-916. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station.
Responses to Climate Change
Responses to Climate Change: What You Need to Know gives a brief overview of the adaptation options, resistance, resilience, and transition, and how to incorporate them into natural resource planning, as well as providing definitions and descriptions of mitigation and restoration.
Watch the Responses to Climate Change recording on YouTube
By the end of Responses to Climate Change, users should know:
- The three adaptation options: resistance, resilience, and transition
- Differences and similarities between resistance, resilience, and transition
- Benefits and risks involved with each of the adaptation options
- The basic steps of the adaptation planning process
- Mitigation options for land management
- Differences between adaptation, mitigation, and restoration
Information, Documentation, and Support
Citation for Original Module: Marcinkowski, K.; Swanston, C. 2017. Responses to climate change: what you need to know. An interactive education module from the Climate Change Resource Center. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-955. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station.