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Student Activity 1
Carbon Dioxide

Part 1: Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere

How does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere affect climate? To investigate, analyze the Keeling Curve Graphs,
created from data collected from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii.
1. What effects do you think carbon dioxide has on Earth’s atmosphere? How do we experience these effects?
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2. Watch the short video clip, and indicate where thermal energy (heat) is being absorbed, reflected, or radiated.
Label these energy flows as visible light, infrared light, or both.

3. What effect does carbon dioxide have on the energy being transferred from the Sun to Earth?
What about the energy being radiated from Earth to space?
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4. What will happen to the amount of energy radiated from the Sun to Earth if the amount of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere continues to increase? What about from Earth to space?
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 5. The Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii has been monitoring atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide since 1958.
Examine the folded sheet of Keeling Curve Graphs. Graphs 1 and 2 represent the data collected at this
observatory over a period of a week and a month. With your group, discuss what you notice, if anything, about
the concentration of carbon dioxide.
 6. Unfold the sheet to see Graphs 3 and 4. These graphs show data collected over periods of six months and a
year. What do you notice about the concentration of carbon dioxide? What does this imply about the energy
in the atmosphere during these periods? Compare and contrast with previous graphs.
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 7. Turn the sheet over. Graph 5 shows data collected from 2016 to 2018 at Mauna Loa. Discuss how the
carbon dioxide concentration of January 2018 compares with that of January 2017. Discuss with your
group how May 2016 compares with May 2017.
 8. The two-year graph of carbon dioxide concentration shows a regular up-and-down variation that peaks
every year in mid-May. Patterns that follow a yearly pattern are called annual cycles. What causes the
annual cycle of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere?
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 9. Graph 6 shows the full observation history of the Mauna Loa Observatory. Discuss what you notice about
the concentration of carbon dioxide over the 60-year observation history. Explain what this implies about
the energy absorbed by Earth’s atmosphere during this time period.
10. Sketch a trend line on the graph below to predict how the average global temperature has changed over
time. When you have finished, your teacher will provide a graph of actual data. Compare your prediction
to the graph.

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11. Graphs 7 and 8 show the Mauna Loa data combined with ice core data to provide a longer history of carbon
dioxide concentration. As a group, discuss what this trend implies about the temperature of Earth.
12. How has the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide changed over the majority of the last 10 000 years of
Earth’s history? How has the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide changed over the last 100 years?
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13. Graphs 7 and 8 both show a sharp increase in carbon dioxide concentration in recent history. What sources
of carbon dioxide do you think are causing this increase? Research online to find a graph that supports or
challenges your ideas. Share your findings with your group.
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14. The total amount of carbon on Earth today is the same as when Earth was formed 4.5 billion years ago. It
has not increased over time. So, why is carbon such a problem now? (Hint: Recall the carbon cycle.)
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15. What is driving the overall trend for the concentration of carbon dioxide for the last 10 000 years of Earth’s history?
What is driving the trend for the concentration of carbon dioxide for the last 100 years of Earth’s history?
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Part 2: Carbon Dioxide in the Ocean

While the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased dramatically in the recent past, the
spike is not as sharp as it should be. The ocean actually absorbs and stores a substantial amount of the carbon
dioxide produced each year. What is the effect of the ocean storing carbon dioxide?
1. Collect two beakers of seawater solution. Place 5 or 6 drops of bromothymol blue in each solution. Stir
using a glass rod to evenly dilute the indicator. Based on the colour of the solution, estimate the pH
using an indicator scale.
The pH of seawater is ______.
2. Predict what will happen if you continuously blow into one of these solutions. What changes will take place,
if any?
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3. Take a straw and softly blow into the second solution continuously for 30–60 s. Record your observations.
Discuss them with your group.
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4. Using prior knowledge and what you know about your breath, explain why these changes have occurred.
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5. Using the indicator scale, estimate the pH of the seawater you blew into. The pH of the seawater you
blew into is ______. Compare this to the pH of the seawater you did not blow into.
6. Using your knowledge about the increasing carbon dioxide concentration from Part 1 of this activity, predict
how the pH of seawater has been changing in recent history.
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7. Compare and contrast your prediction to the following graph of seawater pH in the Hawaiian Ocean:

Source: Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) Station Aloha, Hawaii, North Pacific

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8. What do you think the consequences of the changing pH of seawater are? Compare your answers with those
of a partner and be prepared to share your ideas.
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9. How is this effect changing over time, and why?
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Consolidate Your Learning

Answer the following questions to check your understanding of concepts relating to carbon dioxide emissions
in the atmosphere and in the ocean.
1. Looking at recent trends of atmospheric temperature and ocean pH, do you think these trends will continue
indefinitely? Why or why not?
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2. If the industrial revolution had not occurred, what would you expect the carbon dioxide levels to be like? What
would the relative effects on the atmosphere and the ocean be? Justify your answers.
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3. How is the increasing concentration of carbon dioxide affecting Earth’s ecosystems? Support your answer
using observational evidence.
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4. Governments can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by imposing a carbon tax. A carbon tax attaches a cost
to polluting. What are some pros and cons for this approach? What other ideas might work?

Pros Cons

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