Activity 5 - How Do Carbon Dioxide Concentrations in the Atmosphere Affect Global Climate?

Use the resources listed below to help you complete this activity.

To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:

What are Greenhouse Gases?

Global Warming FAQ, NASA
This site gives good descriptions of global warming and greenhouse gasses. It also contains several helpful links to other sites on greenhouse gasses.

Greenhouse Gases and Society, University of Michigan
Need a better understanding of the greenhouse effect? Explore real-world applications and view visual aids at this site.

Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States, The Energy Information Administration (EIA)
View US emission data of greenhouse data from 1987 through 2000 by exploring this site.

The Carbon Cycle

Carbon Cycle Science Breakthroughs. . . . at NOAA and Beyond, NOAA
Here, NOAA provides useful graphics and text to introduce the carbon cycle and makes relevant the importance of understanding this cycle.

Our Changing Planet - The Carbon Cycle (p.19), The FY 2002 US Global Change Research Program
Read about President Bush's Initiative to researching and abating global warming. This site features up-to-date data on the carbon and water cycles, atmospheric composition, ocean warming, and more.
(NOTE: Adobe Reader is needed to view this document. Download the latest, FREE version.)

Overview to Climate Change, Climate Ark
Graphic representations and explanations of the carbon cycle are available at this website.

Understanding the Global Carbon Cycle - Woods Hole Research Center
This site revieiws the basics of the global carbon cycle and how fossil fuels are linked to the cycle.

Carbon Dioxide and Climate

Carbon Dioxide Emissions of the United States , EIA
This site provides information on CO2 emissions from US energy and industry in the last decade.

Overview to Climate Change, Climate Ark
Graphics and explanations of observed climate trends are available at this website.

• Temperature and CO2 concentration in the atmosphere over the past 400 000 years
• CO2 Concentration in the atmosphere: Mauna Loa curve
• Global atmospheric concentration of CO2
• Climate Ark: CO2 emissions from industrial processes
• Emissions of CO2 - selected countries (1995)

 

Inquiring Further:

To learn more about the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), visit the following web sites:

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Discover IPCC, and its mission, and member constituents by visiting this page.

IPCC Assessment Report: Climate Change
This document provides "a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the policy-relevant scientific, technical, and socioeconomic dimensions of climate change."

To learn more about the 1997 Earth Summit meeting in New York, visit the following web sites:

Earth Summit +5, UN Department of Public Information
This web site contains general information on the history of Earth Summit, the mission, and the key-players involved.

Obtain key information on the issues surrounding Earth Summit, recent press releases, and more.

Send all comments about this website to education@agiweb.org

Last updated: May 11, 2010

This project is supported, in part, by the National Science Foundation and the AGI Foundation. Opinions expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation.