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The Effect Of Extra Co2 On The Atmosphere On Water Acidity And Temperature

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The effects of extra CO2 in the atmosphere on water acidity and temperature
By Alexander Bradford

Abstract:
An experiment was conducted to test whether or not excess CO2 in the atmosphere had any effects on atmospheric temperature and water acidification. Two bottles were filled with tap water, and capped with a thermometer. One bottle had nothing added, the other had CO2 gas added. The bottles were placed near two desk lamps. The temperatures were recorded over a 1-hour period at 10-15 minute intervals, and the pH levels of the water in the bottles after the time were recorded. The experiment was conducted to obtain sample data on the effects of excess greenhouse gases such as CO2 in the atmosphere. The results in temperature showed a …show more content…

They are also the two most heat absorbent gases in the atmosphere. Therefore, if there was to be an increase in these such gases, there would be more heat being absorbed by the atmosphere before leaving to space (Lynas, 2008). The Sun radiates three types of radiation to Earth, UV radiation which is invisible to the naked eye and can cause skin cancer due to excessive exposure, visible light that gives light during the day, and infrared radiation which is the heat that can be felt from the Sun’s rays (Irvine, Sriver, & Keller, 2012). The Earth is surround by an ozone layer which is made up of three oxygen atoms, this layer protects the earth from UV radiation, and reflects some infrared radiation (Kitchen, 2014). Additionally, the remaining Infrared radiation reaches the Earth’s surface, some is absorbed, while some is reflected to the atmosphere; the atmosphere then absorbs some of this radiation and sends the rest back to space; the absorbed radiation by the atmosphere is then reflected to the earth’s surface again, and the process continues indefinitely (Dyer, Richards, Short, & Dodson, 2013). Now if there were excess CO2 in the atmosphere, like the enhanced greenhouse effect, more Infrared radiation would be absorbed, increasing the temperature of the atmosphere (Houghton, 2010). This increase in temperature can greatly affect ecosystems on earth that depend on a balanced temperature (Ferrari et al., 2012).

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