Breaking Down Barriers
Supporting Community Engagement and Effective Science Communication
We have discontinued the Breaking Down Barriers program but will continue to make available its web resources. If you have questions, please email us.
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Climate Change in my Community: Flash Floods and our Changing Climate
Why do floods occur, and how is climate change making them worse?
As the climate continues to change, we see changes to the hydrologic cycle occurring worldwide. This activity developed by NCSE Graduate Student Outreach Fellow Lilly Jones demonstrates the impact of increased precipitation on soils that can typically be found in different locations (sandy areas, clay soils, forested areas, agricultural land, and land impacted by wildfire). This is an easy activity that can be used to demonstrate the hydrologic concepts of “infiltration and runoff,” and to begin conversations about floods and why they can occur. It pairs well with NCSE’s Rising Tides activity for longer programs.
