The climate of the future is learned today

Climate change is no longer a prediction but an observable and daily reality. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the last nine years have been the warmest on record. In 2024, the global average temperature was 1.48 °C higher than pre-industrial levels, a figure that brings us closer to the 1.5 °C limit set in the Paris Agreement to avoid irreversible consequences.

In the Caribbean, this reality is reflected in concrete ways: stronger hurricanes, prolonged droughts, and unprecedented heat waves. In Puerto Rico, during the summer of 2024, the National Weather Service reported wind chills of up to 111 °F (44 °C), a figure that marks an all-time record. Years ago, hurricanes such as Maria (2017) demonstrated how the increase in energy trapped in the oceans intensifies the destructive force of tropical cyclones. These events are not isolated. They are part of a global pattern that is rewriting the relationship between climate, ecosystems, and human life.

Climate science

The study of climate is carried out with a precision that integrates science, engineering and technology. Researchers use weather satellites, ocean buoys, radars, balloons and automatic stations to collect millions of measurements every day. These observations include temperature, humidity, solar radiation, atmospheric pressure, wind speed, and concentration of greenhouse gases such as CO2 and methane.

Climate science has identified worrying trends: sea level rises by about 3.3 mm per year, increasing coastal erosion and flooding. Extreme heat events have tripled since 1980, and heavy rainfall has increased by 20% in tropical regions. In 2023, the tropical Atlantic Ocean reached a record temperature intensifying storms. In the Caribbean, NOAA reported mass coral bleaching due to marine warming. Climate science is based on continuous observation, global data, and mathematical models that simulate the planetary response to different scenarios.

The Caribbean, a natural laboratory

Few regions of the world are as dynamic for the study of climate as the Caribbean. In a single year, this region experiences diverse phenomena such as droughts, tropical storms, Saharan winds, and heat waves, offering valuable opportunities to connect science with reality. For example, after a heavy rain event, students can analyze the amount of rain that fell and compare it to historical data. During a heat wave, they can observe the temperature differences between green areas and asphalted surfaces. In dry seasons, it is possible to investigate the impact of lack of rain on crops and local vegetation. These activities bring climate science closer to everyday life in the classroom.

Learning by measuring

Talking about climate change is not enough. Students need to observe it, measure it, and understand it. A school can become a climate laboratory with simple instruments such as digital thermometers, rain gauges, barometers or wireless sensors that help students record environmental variables in their own environment.

STEM activities related to climate science range from simple temperature measurement activities to data analysis and scientific visualization. The focus in elementary school should be the exploration of the basics of time such as measuring the temperature in different places in the playground and graphing the results. These concrete experiences teach them how the environment influences the wind chill and encourages critical observation.

At the intermediate level, students can carry out measurements of temperature, humidity or solar radiation at different times of the day for a week. Then, analyze the patterns in a spreadsheet or simple software that allows them to relate the data to heat waves.  At the higher level, they must undertake field research such as monitoring soil temperature and its effect on plant germination or studying air quality for different days and then comparing them with official sources or being included in global citizen observation networks.

"Labdiscs and Xploris are portable sensors or digital stations that allow you to collect environmental data in real time and analyze it using scientific software. https://globisens.net/"

Educating for resilience

In the face of extreme events, we need to offer our students educational experiences that allow them to critically interpret and analyze climate data. We must train them as citizens capable of making informed decisions and designing sustainable solutions is preparing a generation to understand the planet and take care of it responsibly.

The planet expresses itself through its changes, and science helps us interpret its language. Measuring climate is understanding our connection to the Earth and taking responsibility to protect it. Educating about the climate is sharing knowledge, arousing curiosity and motivating conscious actions that transform the world.