Philip Carey Period 2

Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography have
been recording CO2 levels at Mauna Loa Volcano on the Island of Hawaii on a monthly basis since 1958. The following
table shows the level of CO2 each year since then up to March of this year (2013).

Year
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2013

Level of CO2 in the atmosphere (measured in

ppm this means molecules of CO2 per million
molecules of atmospheric gas)
300
320
325
330
338
347
352
358
370
380
390
395

Graph the following data on the axes provided. Be sure to do the following: (a) number your axes to scale, (b) label each
axis, (c) choose the correct type of graph for this data (there are two sets of numbers), and (d) give the graph a title.

After completing the graph, please enter data into Google Spreadsheets to determine a rate answer the questions that
follow. Show all work and use complete sentences.

Follow up questions:
1.
Record the rate from Google Spreadsheets here: 1.65%
2.
Determine the rate of change in CO2 levels in the atmosphere each year from the graph you plotted.
Show your work and circle the rate once you have calculated it. Dont forget units!
The rate of change is 1.65%
3.
Use the rate to predict the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in 2023 (10 years from now). Show
your work.
y = 1.65*(63)+305.316 = 409.266 ppm of carbon dioxide 10 years from now
4.
Besides the burning of fossil fuels, other human activities are contributing to the increase in CO2 in the
atmosphere over the last 50 years. Give an example of another human activity and explain how it is raising CO2
levels in the atmosphere?
Another thing that is affecting our rate of CO2 emissions is the deforestation that is happening right now.
When we use the tools for this, it worsens the air quality and pollutes our Earth
5.
Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas. What is happening as a result of the increase in this greenhouse gas
in the atmosphere? How do you think this affects biodiversity?
The temperatures are consistently rising, and the ice caps are melting, so some of these climate changes may
affect the species in the arctic regions or even elsewhere, so biodiversity will become worse because some
species cant survive the climate changes.
6.
E.O. Wilson uses the acronym HIPPO to describe the ways in which biodiversity of species is affected.
What does HIPPO stand for? Which of the letters in HIPPO global climate change reference? See what E.O.
Wilson has to say here:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/edward_o_wilson_the_loss_of_biodiversit
y_is_a_tragedy/#.VCIBSvldV8E
Habitat loss: Destroying the habitats of our animals
Invasive species: Species that arent native to the area
Pollution: Releasing unhealthy substances into the atmosphere
People, overpopulation: Having too many people
Overharvesting: Taking away from our species habitats