Climate change worksheet 1 PDF

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Summary

Using interpretation skills to analyze a graph regarding climate change which depicts temperature and CO2 levels over the last 400,000 years, and points out glacial and interglacial periods....

Description

Understanding Graphs Related to Climate Change

1) The graph above shows data taken from the Vostok Ice core in Antarctica. What does the solid blue line on the graph represent?

2) Does the Y axis show a specific temperature in oC? What does it show?

3) According to the graph are we currently in a glacial or interglacial period? How can you tell?

4) What is the approximate time interval between maxima in interglacial periods (i.e.!the time between ‘peaks’ in temperature)??

5) What do the dots on the graph represent?

6) What is the highest CO2 level recorded on this graph?

5) What is the difference in CO2 concentrations between maxima in interglacial periods (i.e. peaks in the graph) and maxima in glacial periods (i.e. valleys in the graph)?

————————————————————————————————————————— Direct measurements of atmospheric CO2 began in Mauna Loa in 1958 and continue today.

6) What is the maximum CO2 concentration observed on this graph?

7) How have CO2 levels changed over the past 59 years?

8) What was the approximate daily average CO2 level yesterday? (September 5, 2017)

9) How does this compare to the maximum CO2 level recorded in the Vostok ice core?

10) There have been higher CO2 levels in the past (millions of years ago). What is different about the increase in CO2 we are seeing now?

References: This handout is modified from the Climate Literacy labs developed by Dr. Jeremy Diem in the GSU Geoscience Department. http://sites.gsu.edu/geog1112/...