Black Ice - A Slippery Arctic Road

In this series of activities students investigate the effects of black carbon on snow and ice melt in the Arctic. The lesson begins with an activity that introduces students to the concept of thermal energy and how light and dark surfaces reflect and absorb radiant energy differently. To help quantify the relationship between carbon
and ice melt, the wet lab activity has students create ice samples both with and without black carbon and then compare how they respond to radiant energy while considering implications for the Arctic.

Go To:

https://erp.unc.edu/files/2014/01/Black-Ice-Lesson_Jan-2014.pdf

DeeDee Whitaker

Katherine Whang

Notes From Our Reviewers

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Teaching Tips

The lesson could be very easily altered to allow for a more authentic, student-driven, investigative approach to answering questions about black carbon if some of the background information is left to the end or strategically cut down.

Do the wet labs before you show the videos or have students read as they outline concepts before having a chance to engage with them and come to their own conclusions.

About the Science

Provides a thorough explanation of black carbon and how its chemistry affects Earth system processes, particularly in the Arctic.

Includes data collection by measuring reflected light off white and blackened ice, as well as melted water.

Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

The lesson is very thorough, includes differentiations for students with special needs and low-technology options. The lesson provides questions for each section and subsequent keys.

A mixture of readings, videos, and hands-on labs.

Good extension activities/questions that go beyond the information stated in the videos.

Technical Details

The data collections interface and probeware may not be common in all classrooms (Cost is $55); however, the lesson provides alternatives to using the interfaces described in the lesson by measuring melted water and mass loss of ice with and without black carbon.