Activity 5 - Is it happening?

Activity 5 - Global Warming. Is it happening?

Introduction

Students are required to manipulate and interpret global carbon dioxide levels and average global temperatures data from 1959 to 1997.

Aims of this activity

For students to realise that both carbon dioxides levels and global temperatures are rising. Students should also note that temperature increases and rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration levels do not always parallel each other.

NC Links

QCA Reference - 9G4 -to use secondary sources to answer scientific questions. To evaluate the evidence put forward by others. To decide whether evidence is good enough to answer a question.

NC PoS - Sc1 1a

Activity notes

This is a more complex and more open ended activity than the previous one. More able students may prefer to start their investigation of global warming data from here.Students are also encouraged to consider how scientists are able to estimate historic global temperatures. In addition students can use the internet to research up to date data.

The data is provided in an HTML, xls and pdf formats. Students can then select out the required data and produce graphs using a spreadsheet program e.g. Excel. Alternatively, the data can be downloaded from source and directly graphed. within the program. Traditional graphing methods can still be used. A ready made graph for the whole period can be used with students who are less confident in the use of spreadsheet programs. The pdf version of the data can be printed.

Resources needed

Double click on the links below to retrieve:

The evidence - temperature and carbon dioxide. Is it happening?

The PC requires Excel, preferably at least 97.

An Acrobat Reader. This is a free download.

Data source for teachers.

Produced by Nick Falk

next activity

		Introduction
		Students are required to manipulate and interpret global carbon dioxide levels and average global temperatures data from 1959 to 1997.
		Aims of this activity
		For students to realise that both carbon dioxides levels and global temperatures are rising. Students should also note that temperature increases and rising atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration levels do not always parallel each other.
		NC Links
		QCA Reference - 9G4 -to use secondary sources to answer scientific questions. To evaluate the evidence put forward by others. To decide whether evidence is good enough to answer a question.
		NC PoS - Sc1 1a
		Activity notes
		This is a more complex and more open ended activity than the previous one. More able students may prefer to start their investigation of global warming data from here.Students are also encouraged to consider how scientists are able to estimate historic global temperatures. In addition students can use the internet to research up to date data. The data is provided in an HTML, xls and pdf formats. Students can then select out the required data and produce graphs using a spreadsheet program e.g. Excel. Alternatively, the data can be downloaded from source and directly graphed. within the program. Traditional graphing methods can still be used. A ready made graph for the whole period can be used with students who are less confident in the use of spreadsheet programs. The pdf version of the data can be printed.
		Resources needed
		Double click on the links below to retrieve: The evidence - temperature and carbon dioxide. Is it happening? The PC requires Excel, preferably at least 97. An Acrobat Reader. This is a free download. Data source for teachers.