Name: __________________________________________ Block: ______ Date: ____________
LAB ACTIVITY
Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Although carbon dioxide makes up only about 0.03 percent of the total
volume of gases in Earth’s atmosphere, its impact on our climate appears to be
significant. Scientists have little doubt that Earth was warmer in the past when carbon
dioxide levels were higher. Thus, any increase in carbon dioxide levels today would
be expected to result in a gradual increase in temperatures throughout the world.
Not all carbon dioxid is the result of human activities. Carbon dioxide can be
produced naturally. The respiration of animals and the decay of dead plants and
animals are two sources. However, neither of these sources is significant when
compared with the amount of carbon dioxide released by the burning of fossil fuels as
coal, oil, and natural gas.
Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have been measured for many
years. The longest continuous record comes from air samples taken on Mauna Loa, an
inactive volcano and the highest peak in Hawaii.
LAB SKILLS AND
OBJECTIVES
 Plot several years of
carbon dioxide data.
 Compare and Contrast
recent data with older
data.
MATERIALS
 Colored pencils
 Straightedge
 Calculator
 Global Surface
Temperatures Change
graph, Chapter 21,
page 476 of your
textbook
Procedures
11.. Choose a colored pencil and plot the data in the Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide from 2008-2012
data table on the grid provided. Connect the points by drawing straight lines between adjacent
points with your straightedge.
22..
Use a calculator to complete the upper data table by calculating the annual average for each of the
years from 2008-2012. The annual average is computed by summing the concentrations for all 12
months and dividing by 12.
33..
Use a second colored pencil and a straightedge to plot the annual average on the grid for each of
the five years from 2008-2012. Place the straightedge horizontally across the grid at the
appropriate concentrations, and then draw a line at the value across the grid boxes that represent
the appropriate year.
44..
Use a different color pencil for each data set and straightedge to plot the annual average on the
second grid (title annual average concentration from 1959-1963, 1996-2000, and 2008-2012).
Place the straightedge horizontally across the grid at the appropriate concentrations, and then
draw a line at the value across the grid boxes that represent the appropriate year.
Analysis and Conclusions
11.. During which month or months does the minimum value for atmospheric CO2 concentration
occur for the years 2008-2012?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
22..
During which month or months does the maximum value for atmospheric CO2 concentration
occur for the years 2008-2012?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
33..
Based on your knowledge of the relationship between photosynthesis and CO2, explain why CO2
concentrations cycle throughout the year.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
44..
Based on your knowledge of the relationship between the burning of fossil fuels and CO2, another
reason for the cyclic nature of CO2 concentration throughout the year.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
55..
Look at the data table for atmospheric CO2 concentrations for the years 1959-1963. In parts per
million, by how much did the annual average increase between 1959 and 1963? What was the
largest increase between two years during the period from 1959-1963?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
66..
In parts per million, by how much did the annual average increase between 1996 and 2000? What
was the largest increase between two years during the period from 1996-2000?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
77..
In parts per million, by how much did the annual average increase between 2008 and 2012? What
was the largest increase between two years during the period from 2008-2012?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
88..
Based on your answers to Questions 5, 6 and 7, how is the trend in CO2 concentrations changing
over time?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
99..
Name two ways that the increase in atmosphere CO2 concentrations could be slowed down.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
1100.. Look at the Global Surface Temperature Change graph on page 476 of your textbook.
How does
the trend in surface temperatures from 1960-2000 compare with the trend in CO2 concentrations?
Does this prove that increasing CO2 concentrations are the cause of rising temperatures?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide From 2008-2012
Month
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Annual
Average
2008
385.44
385.73
385.97
387.16
388.50
387.88
386.42
384.15
383.09
382.99
384.13
385.56
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations (ppm)
2009
2010
2011
386.94
388.50
391.25
387.42
389.94
392.82
388.77
391.09
392.49
389.44
392.52
393.34
390.19
393.04
394.21
389.45
392.15
393.72
387.78
390.22
392.42
385.92
388.26
390.19
384.79
386.83
389.04
384.39
387.20
388.96
386.00
388.65
390.24
387.13
389.73
391.83
2012
393.12
393.60
394.45
396.18
396.78
395.83
394.30
392.41
391.06
391.01
392.82
394.28
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide From 1996-2000
Month
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Annual
Average
1996
362.04
363.17
364.17
364.51
365.16
364.93
363.53
361.38
359.60
359.54
360.84
362.18
362.59
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations (ppm)
1997
1998
1999
363.04
365.18
368.12
364.09
365.98
368.98
364.47
367.13
369.60
366.25
368.61
370.96
366.69
369.49
370.77
365.59
368.95
370.33
364.34
367.74
369.28
362.20
365.79
366.86
360.31
364.01
364.94
360.71
365.35
365.35
362.44
365.52
366.68
364.33
367.08
368.04
363.71
366.74
368.33
2000
369.25
369.50
370.56
371.82
371.51
371.71
369.85
368.20
366.91
366.99
368.13
369.67
369.51
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide From 1959-1963
Month
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Annual
Average
1959
315.62
316.38
316.71
317.72
318.29
318.15
316.54
314.80
313.84
313.26
314.80
315.58
315.97
Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentrations (ppm)
1960
1961
1962
316.43
316.93
317.94
316.97
317.70
318.56
317.58
318.54
319.68
319.02
319.48
320.63
320.03
320.58
321.01
319.59
319.77
320.55
318.18
318.57
319.58
315.91
316.79
317.40
314.16
314.80
316.26
313.83
315.38
315.42
315.00
316.10
316.69
316.19
317.01
317.69
316.91
317.64
318.45
1963
318.74
319.08
319.86
321.39
322.25
321.47
319.74
317.77
316.21
315.99
317.12
318.31
318.99