GETSI Project: Using geodetic data to each about changes in ice mass and sea level in introductory courses

Abstract:

The GETSI project is a three-year NSF funded project to develop and disseminate teaching and learning materials that feature geodesy data applied to critical societal issues (http://serc.carleton.edu/getsi). Here, we present material on incorporating geodetic data in introductory courses to teach about ice sheet mass loss, which is one of the modules that GETSI (Geodesy Tools for Societal Issues) is developing in its first year of funding. The module explores the interactions between global sea level rise, Greenland ice mass loss, and the response of the solid earth. It brings together topics typically addressed in introductory Earth science courses (isostatic rebound, geologic measurements, and climate change) in a way that highlights the interconnectivity of the Earth system and the interpretation of geodetic data.

Our module has two over-arching goals: 1) for students to interpret geodetic data to assess spatial patterns and causes of mass loss, and 2) for students to evaluate the impact of ice sheet mass change on global and regional sea level and consider societal implications of ice sheet mass and sea level changes. We’ve developed four teaching units that focus on different components of these goals. In each unit, students analyze geodetic data and are guided through a series of questions to encourage their understanding of sea level rise and data interpretation.