Ice Core Lab - Lab Report PDF

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EVR1001L Lab 2: Ice Cores Gabrielle Gonzalez Materials and Methods: Due to rising CO2 levels, the avatar was transported to Antarctica to collect and examine an ice sample. To begin the lab, a drilling rig was used to collect the sample. Following the collection, the ice was taken back to a lab where it was then examined by a gas chromatograph. The chromatograph was able to analyze the amount of CO2 found inside of the sample, in order to determine why the climate has been changing. Multiple points of data were collected from the examiners to show the different levels of CO2, up to 1010 years ago. This was then recorded were it was compared to other previous samples throughout history. Results: Tables and Graphs Table 1. Depth (meters) 0.4 1.8 3.2 4.6 6.0 7.4 8.8 10.2 11.6 13.0 14.4 15.8 17.2 18.6 20.0 21.4 22.8 24.2 25.6 27.0 28.4 29.8 31.2 32.6 34.0

Age (years) Before present 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

CO2 (ppmv ) 400.8 398.6 396.5 393.8 391.6 389.9 387.4 385.6 383.8 381.9 379.8 377.5 375.8 373.2 371.1 369.5 368.3 366.7 363.7 362.6 360.8 358.8 357.1 356.4 355.6

35.4 36.8 38.2 39.6 41.0 42.4 43.8 45.2 46.6 48.0 49.4 50.8 52.2 53.6 55.0 56.4 57.8 59.2 60.6 62.0 63.4 64.8 66.2 67.6 69.0 70.4 71.8 73.2 74.6 76.0 77.4 78.0 81.8 81.8 81.8 104.4 104.6 104.3 120.3 120.0 124.0 128.8 129.0

26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 62 62 62 63 63 63 68 68 72 76 77

354.4 353.1 351.6 349.2 347.4 346.0 344.6 343.0 341.4 340.1 338.7 336.8 335.4 333.8 332.1 331.1 330.2 329.7 327.5 326.3 325.7 324.6 323.0 322.2 321.4 320.0 319.6 319.0 318.5 317.6 316.9 315.7 313.6 314.7 314.1 311.9 311.0 312.7 309.9 311.4 309.7 310.5 311.0

130.0 131.0 133.0 135.8 137.0 137.0 138.0 138.8 138.8 149.9 153.0 160.7 160.9 163.0 166.0 167.9 174.4 175.0 179.5 184.3 190.3 197.5 206.1 214.1 218.0 223.0 228.7 229.0 230.0 231.0 232.0 233.0 234.0 235.0 236.0 237.0 238.0 245.6 263.4 285.2 293.2 302.1 313.9

77 78 80 82 84 87 90 92 92 101 104 111 111 111 117 118 124 125 130 134 139 147 155 162 166 171 176 184 191 220 222 239 256 267 269 296 324 337 369 412 427 446 469

309.2 310.5 307.9 309.2 307.8 305.2 305.0 304.8 304.1 301.3 300.7 296.9 298.5 299.0 296.5 294.7 294.6 294.7 293.7 291.9 288.8 287.4 286.6 284.9 285.2 286.1 283.0 284.5 285.1 283.7 281.6 279.5 276.7 277.2 276.9 277.5 276.5 275.9 277.2 274.3 278.7 281.9 282.8

323.8 336.7 351.3 360.6 387.1 387.2 414.2 447.3 467.9 488.5 506.0 523.6 534.3

489 517 551 570 629 629 689 770 820 870 920 970 1010

283.2 282.4 279.6 281.7 280.0 280.4 283.4 281.7 283.9 283.8 282.4 280.3 279.4

450.0

CO2 Concentraton (ppmv)

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Figure 1. CO2 concentration from the ice core from the last 1010 years

450.0

Figure 2. Ice core CO2 concentrations over time.

400.0

CO2 concentraton (ppmv)

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Discussion and Conclusion: Has carbon dioxide, methane and

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nitrous oxide in our atmosphere increased over the years? In Antarctica, these greenhouse gasses have been captured in the ice. The importance of measuring these gasses is because they are directly affecting the heat being captured in our planet, causing the temperatures to rise. In the lab, we collected an ice sample and examined it with a gas chromatograph. This was able to show us the substances found deep within the Antarctic ice. In the data collected, you can see that the carbon dioxide emissions, released by the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities, have increased over time. The past two-hundred years in the carbon cycle, carbon emissions have stopped fluctuating as much and began to rise exponentially by almost 200 ppmv. If these numbers keep rising the temperatures will continue to also rise causing more of the ice caps to melt leading to higher sea levels. Key Largo, Fl, along with the majority of South-East Florida including the beloved Miami Beach, will be completely submerged within the next one-hundred years if the predicted six-foot rise occurs. The data that has already been tested on the carbon cycle and current carbon emissions show that Earth will continue to be effected unless action is made in order to combat them. Simple things such as carpooling, driving fuel efficient cars, using energy efficient appliance, insulating homes, and so much more can lessen a carbon footprint....