Let's look at the evidence to see if global warming and climate change is occurring.
You have already seen that carbon dioxide is an important greenhouse gas. If carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are increasing we may see average global temperatures rising as well.
Activity. Looking at some data - Changing carbon dioxide levels
Carbon dioxde levels have been monitored for many years at Mauna Loa, Hawaii.
What information can we get from the following data?
Year
Carbon dioxide concentrations (ppm) 1959
315.83 1960
316.75 1961
317.49 1962
318.3 1963
318.83 1964
319.04 1965
319.87 1966
321.21 1967
322.02 1968
322.89 1969
324.46 1970
325.52 1971
326.16 1972
327.29 1973
329.51 1974
330.08 1975
330.99 1976
331.98 1977
333.73 1978
335.34 1979
336.68 1980
338.52 1981
339.76 1982
340.96 1983
342.61 1984
344.25 1985
345.73 1986
346.97 1987
348.75
1988
351.31 1989
352.75 1990
354.04 1991
355.48 1992
356.29 1993
356.99 1994
358.88 1995
360.90 1996
361.96 1997
364.11 1998 1999 Analysing the data
Using a spreadsheet program produce bar charts or line graphs for the following time periods
1970 - 80
1980 - 89
1990 - 99
Are there any trends in changes of carbon dioxide levels?
Has there been an increase in carbon dioxide levels?
Has the rate of change increased or decreased?
Download an Excel version of the data and produce a graph of the carbon dioxide concentration levels since 1959.
Click here for a ready made graph.
In the next activity you will look how global temperatures have changed over a similar period
Index
