Concept explainers
Are We Causing Global Warming? Roles: Scribe (takes notes on the group’s activities), Advocate (argues in favor of the claim that human activity is causing global warming), Skeptic (points out weaknesses in the arguments made by the Advocate), Moderator (leads group discussion and makes sure everyone contributes). Activity:
a. Work together to make a list of scientific observations that have been proposed as evidence that humans are causing global warming. Your list should include, but is not limited to, the evidence in Figures 10.38-10.42. b. Advocate presents the case that humans are causing global warming, drawing on the evidence from part a. c. Skeptic attempts to refute Advocate’s case using scientific arguments.
d. After hearing these arguments, Moderator and Scribe decide whose arguments were more persuasive and explain their reasoning. E. Each person in the group writes up a summary of the discussion.
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 10 Solutions
Cosmic Persp: Stars&mstg&et&skygazer 5.0 Pkg
- Why are we concerned about the increases in CO2 and other gases that cause the greenhouse effect in Earth’s atmosphere? What steps can we take in the future to reduce the levels of CO2 in our atmosphere? What factors stand in the way of taking the steps you suggest? (You may include technological, economic, and political factors in your answer.)arrow_forwardHow Do We Know? In what ways have scientists been professionally skeptical about global warming and its causes?arrow_forwardBriefly describe the greenhouse effect.arrow_forward
- What does a planet need in order to retain an atmosphere? How does an atmosphere affect the surface of a planet and the ability of life to exist?arrow_forwardLife on Earth exists because of oxygen in Earths atmosphere. True or false? Explain your answer.arrow_forwardExplain what it means when we say that Earth’s oceans are in hydrostatic equilibrium. Now suppose you are a scuba diver. Would you expect the pressure to increase or decrease as you dive below the surface to a depth of 200 feet? Why?arrow_forward
- Why is a decrease in Earth’s ozone harmful to life?arrow_forwardThe runaway greenhouse effect and its inverse, the runaway refrigerator effect, have led to harsh, uninhabitable conditions on Venus and Mars. Does the greenhouse effect always cause climate changes leading to loss of water and life? Give a reason for your answer.arrow_forwardCompare the current atmospheres of Earth, Venus, and Mars in terms of composition, thickness (and pressure at the surface), and the greenhouse effect.arrow_forward
- what is sunflower solar panels and who made it how does it workarrow_forwardSuppose that Earth grew to its present size in 1 million years through the accretion of particles averaging 100 grams each. On the average, how many particles did Earth capture per second? (Note: Earth’s mass is 6.01027 grams.)arrow_forwardWhy do small planets cool faster than large planets? Choose any two of the five Terrestrial worlds and calculate for each one the ratio of its surface area to its volume. Why is this ratio important? (Hint: Does this ratio have anything to do with the ability of a planet to lose internal heat?) (Note: The surface area of a sphere is 4r2, and the volume of a sphere is 43r3.)arrow_forward
- AstronomyPhysicsISBN:9781938168284Author:Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. WolffPublisher:OpenStaxFoundations of Astronomy (MindTap Course List)PhysicsISBN:9781337399920Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course ...PhysicsISBN:9781305960961Author:Michael A. Seeds, Dana BackmanPublisher:Cengage Learning