Name: Period:
Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere
Introduction
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a very important gas found in the atmosphere. How does the constantly changing amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere effect our environment?
Objective
To understand and demonstrate how the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has changed and how it affects us.
Procedure
1. Table A shows the average concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in parts per million (ppm) by month. Using Excel, construct a line graph and label the horizontal axis “Time (years)”. The vertical axis should labeled be labeled “Carbon Dioxide Concentration (ppm)”. Place the title “Monthly Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Concentration 2010-2014” at the top of the graph.
2. Table B shows the yearly average CO2 concentration for the years 1990 to 2015. Using Excel, construct a line graph showing how the CO2 concentration has changed over this period of time. Be sure to label x and y axis and give the graph a title.
Questions – Answer all questions in a word document using italics.
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1a. What kind of change is shown in the graph made using data in Table A? (Highlight the best answer).
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b. What kind of change is shown in the graph made using data in Table B? (Highlight the best answer).
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2a. Describe the general trend of the graph you made using data from Table A?
b. Describe the general trend of the graph you made using data from Table B?
2. Using Table B, at what rate is the concentration of CO2 increasing each year (from 1990 to 2015)? Use rate of change formula from your ESRT to calculate this rate of increase. SHOW ALL WORK and remember your units!
3a. Using your answer from question 2, what do you expect the CO2 concentration to be 10 years from 2015?
b. 100 years from 2015?