Name________________________
Data, Graphing, & Questions: Carbon Cycle and Changes in CO2 Levels
Data Table Instructions:
1. Complete Data Table #1 by researching changes in CO2 levels over the
past 1,000 years. Between the years 1000 – 1800 AD, select one data
point per century. Between the years 1800 – present, select one data
point per decade.
2. Complete Data Table #2 by researching changes in CO2 levels over the
past 50 years. Between the years 1960 – present, record every data
point.
3. Fill out Table #3 by researching the CO2 levels at present and preindustrial revolution (1750)
Graph #1 Instructions:
1. Plot a graph (using LoggerPro, Graphical Analysis, or Excel) that shows
the changes in CO2 levels from 1000 AD until the present.
2. Record on Data Table #3 the rate of increase (slope) from 1000 AD to
1750 AD using a linear fit.
3. Record the rate of increase (slope) from 1750 AD to the present using a
linear fit.
Graph #2 Instructions:
1. Plot a graph (using LoggerPro, Graphical Analysis, or Excel) that shows
the changes in CO2 levels from 1959 until the present.
2. Record on Data Table #3 the rate of increase (slope) from 1959 AD to the
present using a linear fit, and extrapolate (predict) what the CO2 levels will
be in the year 2059 (when you are 64 years old!)
3. Select Curve Fit (quadratic) and extrapolate what the CO2 levels will be in
the year 2059 based on this rate’s increase.
4. Add to Data Table #3 that shows these future projections of CO 2 levels.
Data Table #1: CO2 Levels 1000 AD
to Present (from Law Dome Ice Core
Measurements)
Year
ppm CO2
Data Table #2: CO2 Levels 1960 AD
to Present (NOAA Carbon Dioxide
Monitoring, Mauna Loa HI)
Year
ppm CO2
Data Table #3: Rate of Increase and Future Projections ppm of CO2
Rate of
CO2
Increase
1000 –
1750 AD
Rate of
CO2
Increase
1960 –
present
ppm CO2
1750 AD
ppm CO2
2009 AD
ppm CO2
2059 AD
(linear
projection)
ppm CO2
2059 AD
(quadratic
projection)
ON-LINE RESOURCES
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/ - NOAA Carbon Dioxide Monitoring
http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/aggi/ - NOAA Annual Greenhouse Gas Index
ftp://ftp.cmdl.noaa.gov/ccg/co2/trends/co2_annmean_mlo.txt - NOAA Annual
Mean of ppm of Carbon Dioxide
http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/gcag/index.jsp - NOAA Global Climate Change at a
Glance
http://cdiac.ornl.gov/pns/current_ghg.html - CDIAC (Carbon Dioxide Information
Analysis Center). Recent Greenhouse Gasses Concentration
http://cdiac.ornl.gov/ftp/trends/co2/lawdome.combined.dat - CDIAC (Carbon
Dioxide Information Analysis Center).Law Dome Ice Core Data since 1000 AD.
http://cdiac.ornl.gov/ftp/trends/co2/lawdome.smoothed.yr75 - CDIAC (Carbon
Dioxide Information Analysis Center). Law Dome Ice Core Data since 1010 AD.
http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/co2/lawdome-data.html - CDIAC (Carbon Dioxide
Information Analysis Center). Links to all Law Dome Ice Core Data.
Questions: Carbon Cycle & Global Warming
1. In what form (compound) is carbon stored in…
a. Living things?
b. Atmosphere?
c. Earth’s crust?
2. What processes & activities (natural & manmade) return carbon to the
earth’s atmosphere?
3. Name other “greenhouse” (heat trapping) gasses?
4. What is the relationship between greenhouse gasses and temperature?
5. In detail, why has the rate of increase of CO2 in the atmosphere increased
since 1750 AD?