Microbes and Climate
This activity is meant to provide students with an understanding of how microbes play a role in the climate system, from the formation of the atmosphere to current climate dynamics to the role of microbes in climate change.
Authors: Joan Matsuzaki, Katie Lodes, Michelle Garcia, Liz Kumabe, Beth Marass, Linda McIntosh; EARTH 2008
Lesson Resources
- Lesson Plan (Word | PDF)
- Student Handout (Word | PDF)
- What Microbe are You? (C-MORE Microbe Personality Quiz)
Background Reading
- Global Warming excerpt from Global Environmental Change Microbial Contributions Microbial Solutions (American Society for Microbiology)
- Microbes will joust for survival in Earth’s warming climate, LA Times (07/13)
- Climate Change Altering Oceanic Food Chain by Allowing Certain Microbes to Survive, Nature World News (07/13)
- Ocean Microbes Feel a Warming Climate’s Effects, Climate Central (07/13)
- Bacteria 6 Miles Above Earth’s Surface Impacting Climate (YouTube), GeoBeats News (01/13)
- Climate Change Could Impact Vital Functions Of Microbes, ScienceDaily (06/08)
- Microbes As Climate Engineers, ScienceDaily (01/08)
- What Would Happen if Bacteria Were Removed from the Biosphere?
Teacher Feedback
This was a great lesson to introduce my students to other factors that affect climate besides the standard textbook topics. My students were amazed to learn that tiny microbes could have such an important impact on climate.—M. Keymel, Leroy, NY
