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The Complexity of Global Warming – Data Recording & Processing
Name______________________________________________
Data Table 1: Record the slope:
Factor
Atmospheric CO2
Land Albedo
Cloud Cover
Water Vapor
Condition
Normal
Rate
°C/sec
Increased
°C/sec
Black Rock
°C/sec
Tan Rock
°C/sec
0 % Cover
°C/sec
100% Cover
°C/sec
Dry Flask
°C/sec (Increase)
°C/sec (Decrease)
Wet Flask
°C/sec (Increase)
°C/sec (Decrease)
Solar Output
Normal
250 watts
Increased
500 watts
°C/sec
°C/sec
Data Table 2: Identify your hypothesis for the factor you have been assigned by circling the
relationship you are predicting.
Factor
Atmospheric CO2
Land Albedo
Cloud Cover
Water Vapor
Solar Output
Relationship Type (Circle One)
Direct | Inverse | Non-Existent | Inconclusive Results
Direct | Inverse | Non-Existent | Inconclusive Results
Direct | Inverse | Non-Existent | Inconclusive Results
Direct | Inverse | Non-Existent | Inconclusive Results
Direct | Inverse | Non-Existent | Inconclusive Results
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Answers to questions:
Effect of Atmospheric CO2 Levels on Atmospheric Temperature.
Effect of Increased Atmospheric CO2 Levels on Atmospheric Temperature
1. What happened when the alka-seltzer was added to the second flask?
2. Do your results agree with the accepted theory about the effect of CO2 on the
environment?
3. What do you predict will happen with the world’s carbon dioxide level in the future and
what effect do you predict that will have on the world’s climate?
Surface Albedo and its Effect on Atmospheric Temperature
1. Give an example of how a change in albedo could impact atmospheric temperature. Is
this consistent with the results from your experiment?
2. Based on what you already know from global warming, do your results make sense?
Why or why not.
3. Based on your results today, do you think that albedo could affect ocean temperatures?
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Cloud Cover Changes and its Effect on Atmospheric Temperature
1. Did this experiment demonstrate the ability of clouds to reflect heat and keep it out or did
it demonstrate the ability of clouds to act as insulation and keep heat in? Was this
consistent with what you expected?
2. How might increased temperatures caused by climate change magnify the effects of
clouds?
Water Vapor Increase and its Effect on Atmospheric Temperature
1. From 0 to 90 seconds, which flask heated up faster? Why do you think this happened?
How does this reflect how water vapor in the atmosphere controls temperature?
2. From 90 to 270 seconds, which flask cooled down faster? Why do you think that is?
How does this reflect how water vapor in the atmosphere controls temperature?
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Solar Output Changes and its Effect on Atmospheric Temperature
1. What connection did you see between the amount of light energy and temperature
change?
2. Does solar output vary? Has it changed in the past?
3. If the output of the sun increased, is there anything that could be done about it?
The Complexity of Global Warming was written by Jeremy J. Kuhar and adapted by Valerie Stone and Jack Sipe
(Gettysburg College) for the Advancing Science Program at Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, PA 17325
http://www.advancingscience.org Teacher notes were suggested by Karen Albert of York Suburban Middle School,
York PA. This version was adapted at Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA 19426 by the Fall ’08 semester Global
Climate Change Class (Dr. Leah Joseph, Kyle Shelton, Jen Tepel, Rebecca Lamhut, Jesse T. Jones, Jenna Rorer,
Sara Simon, Meg Dawley, Davis Howley and Jon Roth) and Ursinus Mobile Educator, Ron Faust for use by the
Science in Motion program at Ursinus College.
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