Sp21_ClimateActivity_Pt2+3

Plenge Sp2021 Climate Modeling Name Poojha Palle Learning objectives: Part 2  Compare current CO2 concentrations and rates of change with historical CO2 data, and current temperatures and rates of change with historical data  Define greenhouse gases, give examples of greenhouse gases and describe how they change Earth’s energy budget. Part 2A. Paleoclimate data Use the information in the lectures and on this website to help you with the following questions: https://carbonconnections.bscs.org/unit-1/1.2-carbon-from-the-past/ 1. Explain how geoscientists can (a) obtain gas bubbles and (b) determine relative age of the gas bubbles using ice cores. Geoscientists obtain gas bubbles by drilling a core in ice sheets. The deeper they drill, the older the ice is, and with these old ice samples are samples of old air. In this way, scientists can measure CO 2 content in these bubbles from different depths. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Use the graph (also found on the website) to answer the following questions. The 0 on the x-axis represents modern times, which means you travelling back in time as you travel to the right along the x-axis. 2. What is the highest CO2 concentration measured in Antarctic ice? When was it measured? Around 300 ppm, which was around 360,000 years ago. 3. The graph appears cyclic; that is, atmospheric CO2 cycles from a relatively high to a relatively low concentration over time. Approximately how many years pass between peaks in CO2 concentration? Around 125,000 years. Use the graph to answer the following question. 4. Are current CO2 and temperature data correlating the same way they did in the past? (select one) a. Yes, CO2 and temperature show the same trend today that they have in the past. b. No, the temperature is lower than it should be given historical data and current CO2 levels 1

c. No, the temperature is higher than it should be given historical data and current CO2 levels ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part 2B. Greenhouse Gases as Climate Forcings Use the information in the lectures and on this website to help you with the following questions: https://carbonconnections.bscs.org/unit- 1/1.3-carbon-forcing/ This graph shows an example of a forcing and response in a seasonal climate. The Solar Radiation graph shows solar radiation coming to Denver, Colorado (green curve). The graph also shows average temperatures by day. 5. What is the forcing in this graph? a. Solar radiation b. Time c. Temperature 6. What is the response shown in this graph? a. Solar radiation b. Time c. Temperature 7. What is the lag time in this graph? a. 1 day b. 1 week c. 1 month d. 1 year ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Now let’s talk about CO2 and temperature again. 8. Which of the following is NOT an example of a greenhouse gas? a. N2O (nitrous oxide) c. CH4 (methane) b. H2O (water vapor) d. SOx (sulfur oxide compounds) 9. Which greenhouse gas is responsible for about 75% of the warming on Earth? a. CO2 (carbon dioxide) c. CH4 (methane) b. H2O (water vapor) d. SOx (sulfur oxide compounds) 10. Why are scientists so worried about CO2’s impact on temperature? a. CO2 is the most abundant greenhouse gas b. CO2 cannot flux out of the atmosphere as quickly as being added by humans c. CO2 can easily escape from the atmosphere as it dissolves in rainwater d. Scientists are not worried about CO2 having an impact on temperature Watch this video and use the information you learn to help you answer the next question. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXgDrr6qiUk&t= 2