Changes in the Air To assess the impact of human activity on the carbon dioxide level in Earth’s atmosphere, it helps to take a long view. One useful data set comes from deep core samples of Antarctic ice. The oldest ice core that has been fully analyzed dates back a bit more than 400,000 years. Air bubbles trapped in the ice provide information about the gas content in Earth’s atmosphere at the time the ice formed. Combining ice core data with more recent direct measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide—as in FIGURE 46.13—can help scientists put current changes in the atmospheric carbon dioxide into historical perspective.
FIGURE 46.13 Changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels (in parts per million). Direct measurements began in 1980. Earlier data are based on ice cores.
During this period, how many times did carbon dioxide reach a level comparable to that measured in 1980?
To determine: The number of times carbon dioxide reach a level during 400, 000 B.C. and 0 A.D comparable to that measured in 1980.
Introduction: The carbon dioxide concentration is rising, and the present-day concentration is highest in 15 million years. It is more of as result of human activities that contributed in increase in carbon dioxide level in the Earth’s atmosphere. The major contribution is by burning of fossil fuels that releases high amounts of carbon in the atmosphere. This impacts climate and ecosystems.
Refer Fig. 46.13, “Changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels (in parts per million)”, in the textbook. The graphical representation shows the atmospheric carbon dioxide (ppm) measured from deep core samples of Antarctic ice. The air bubbles trapped in the ice gives information regarding the gas content in the Earth’s atmosphere at the time the ice was formed...
Biology (MindTap Course List)
College Physics
Chemistry: An Atoms First Approach
Inquiry into Physics
Introductory Chemistry: A Foundation
Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies - Standalone book (MindTap Course List)
General Chemistry - Standalone book (MindTap Course List)
Understanding Nutrition (MindTap Course List)
Fundamentals of Physical Geography
College Physics
An Introduction to Physical Science
Chemistry & Chemical Reactivity
Chemistry In Focus
Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Course List)
BIOLOGY:CONCEPTS+APPL.(LOOSELEAF)
Human Biology (MindTap Course List)
Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)
Nutrition Through The Life Cycle
Horizons: Exploring the Universe (MindTap Course List)
Chemistry for Engineering Students
Cardiopulmonary Anatomy & Physiology
Introduction to General, Organic and Biochemistry
Physical Chemistry
Chemistry for Today: General, Organic, and Biochemistry
Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
Chemistry In Focus
Chemistry for Engineering Students
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
College Physics
Organic Chemistry
Nutrition Through the Life Cycle (MindTap Course List)
Physics for Scientists and Engineers
General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry
Environmental Science (MindTap Course List)
Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
Organic And Biological Chemistry