Name _______________________________________ Class _______ Date _______________
Inquiry Activity • Paper and Pencil
Chapter 16
Problem
Tracking CO2 and Temperature
Does human activity cause global warming?
Background
Increases in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Toward the end of the 18th century, the Industrial Revolution began. The
revolution was marked by a shift from manual labor to the use of machines. As
technology spread, so did the use of fossil fuels such as petroleum and coal. The
major waste products of burning fossil fuels are carbon dioxide (CO2) and water
vapor (H20 (g)). These are called “greenhouse gases,” because they absorb
energy radiated by the Earth and redirect it downward, warming Earth’s surface.
What Is the Effect?
Without greenhouse gases, the planet would be much cooler because much of the sun’s
energy would radiate back into space. Scientists worry, however, that increases in
greenhouse gases due to human activity are causing accelerated global warming. Using
the data table below, you will graph and evaluate measurements of atmospheric CO2
concentrations and global temperature to reach your own conclusion.
Data Table
Year
Atmospheric
CO2 (ppm)*
Temperature
Anomaly (ºC)**
1800
1810
1820
1830
1840
1850
1860
1870
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1940
1950
1960
1970
283
284
284
284
285
285
286
288
291
294
297
300
303
307
310
312
317
325
–0.36
–0.20
–0.34
0.04
0.03
–0.39
0.02
–0.32
–0.20
0.08
–0.40
–0.42
0.08
–0.21
–0.13
–0.50
0.28
–0.14
* Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
** National Climatic Data Center
Environmental Science • Lab Manual
1
Name _______________________________________ Class _______ Date _______________
Procedure
Materials Graph template (in lab) or graph paper; computer with Internet
access (for Question 9)
Step 1
The data table shows measurements of atmospheric CO2 for every
decade from 1800 to 1970. In the same table is a column of
temperature anomalies for the same years. A temperature anomaly is a
positive or negative difference between that year’s average
temperature and the long-term average.
Study both columns of data to detect any trends.
Step 2
On the graph, on the next page, study how the temperature anomaly
data have been plotted.
A trend line shows the overall trend of these highly variable data over
the given time period.
Step 3
On this same graph, plot CO2 data on the y-axis (on the left) and
years on the x-axis (at the bottom).
Use a different color as well as a different symbol for the CO2 data
points so that they will not be confused with the temperature
anomaly data.
Step 4
After all of the data have been plotted, draw a trend line across the
new data points to show the overall trend of atmospheric CO2.
Step 5
Give the graph a title and complete the legend, showing your data
point symbol and the line color that you used.
Environmental Science • Lab Manual
2
Name _______________________________________ Class _______ Date _______________
1. Follow the procedure to complete the graph of the data in the data table.
Environmental Science • Lab Manual
3
Name _______________________________________ Class _______ Date _______________
Analyze and Conclude
2. Based on the trend lines, what has happened to the amount of CO2 in
the atmosphere between the years 1800 and 1970? What has happened
to temperatures during the same time period? Do the two trends appear
related? Explain.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. What is the most likely cause of the increase in atmospheric CO2?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Based on the relationship between atmospheric CO2 concentration and temperature,
as shown by the trend lines, and on the change in atmospheric CO2 concentration
since the Industrial Revolution, explain why scientists are concerned.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
5. Do the data prove that increasing levels of atmospheric CO2 cause global
warming? Support your conclusion.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Environmental Science • Lab Manual
4
Name _______________________________________ Class _______ Date _______________
6. The ocean has a higher concentration of dissolved CO2 than the atmosphere.
As temperature of water increases, the solubility of gases in water decreases.
If the oceans continue to warm, how might this affect the atmosphere? And
in turn, how might the effect on the atmosphere affect the ocean?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
7. In 2008, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was measured at 385 ppm.
In addition to expanding the time scale, what would you need to do to your
graph to include that data point? Explain.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
8. Extension The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC)
maintains records, for the United States, of atmospheric carbon dioxide
concentrations. Go to the CDIAC Web site and click on the link for
“Atmospheric Trace Gas Measurements.” Select “carbon dioxide.” You will
get several choices. Choose “Law Dome, Antarctica” under “Historical
Records from Ice Cores.” Then click on the link for “Digital Data.” You will
get three choices. Click on the last link, “Record derived from a spline
smoothing (75-year cutoff) of the DE08, DE08-2, and DSS data.”
Look at the data from year 1000 up to 1800. How do the data compare to the
data you graphed? What do these data suggest about the correlation between
the Industrial Revolution (burning of fossil fuels) and global warming?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Environmental Science • Lab Manual
5