What Will Our World Look Like at 4 Degrees?
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Provided by: PBS|Published on: October 16, 2025
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this video from PBS Terra, students will understand how sea level rise due to climate change has the potential to drastically change the landscape, depending on how much warming we cause.
- Students will understand that climate solutions need to be implemented quickly to avoid dramatic sea level rise and will see the potential effects on locations around the United States.
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Geography
Authors: PBS Terra
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video incorporates a lot of visual components to help demonstrate the main points, especially areas that are at risk.
- Students will get to hear from an oceanographer, bringing an expert voice into the conversation.
Prerequisites
- Many students, especially those residing in at-risk zones, may become distressed while watching this video. Teachers should be ready to support students and help them channel their feelings into action.
Differentiation & Implementation
- After watching this video, students may be curious about what kind of solutions need to be implemented to achieve net zero. Students can experiment with this solutions simulator to get a better understanding of what needs to be done.
- Students can use the maps and data visualizations in the video as the basis for data art projects meant to warn others about potential sea level rise. Students can check out examples of data art like this one for reference.
- Teachers can connect this resource with Sustainable Development Goal 13, Climate Action.
This resource presents the future of sea level rise along the U.S. coast under several climate change scenarios. All figures and images presented are well-sourced, and sea level projections are contextualized by a NOAA oceanographer. Rather than just presenting one scenario, the probable range of sea level rise is discussed. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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