Content Objective: Describe how and how much carbon and methane cycles through the organisms and the environment.
Language Objective: Draw the carbon cycle and exploring how the movement of carbon effects the different carbon sinks.
Book Reference:
Book Reference:
Syllabus Details:
Carbon dioxide and water vapour are the most significant greenhouse gases
Other gases including methane and nitrogen oxides have less impact
The impact of a gas depends on its ability to absorb long wave radiation as well as on its concentration in the atmosphere
The warmed Earth emits longer wavelength radiation (heat).
Longer wave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases that retain the heat in the atmosphere
Global temperatures and climate patterns are influenced by concentrations of greenhouse gases
There is a correlation between rising atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide since the start of the industrial revolution 200 years ago and average global temperatures
Analysis of data from air monitoring stations to explain annual fluctuations
Correlations between global temperatures and carbon dioxide concentrations on Earth
Homework: See Homework Page
Landing Page: Topic 3
Activity 1 - Mechanics of the Greenhouse effect
Nice explanation of the Greenhouse effect
Know this and be able to use the following keywords - greenhouse gas, solar radiation, trap heat, short wave radiation, long wave radiation, infra-red
Activity 2 - Evidence for Climate Change
Instructions
Instructions for activities B and C - groups of two or three.
Activities
Activity A - Carbon Dioxide (CO2) vs. Temperature
Activity B - Dendroclimatology (here are the core samples sheet 1 and sheet 2)
Activity 3 - Putting it all together
Using the data above, cross-reference the data collected to create a timeline showing the relationship in CO2 levels and temperature for the last 400,000 years using the different pieces of evidence from the three activities to support your conclusions.
Activity 8
A. Strengthen Your Skills
Lesson Summary
Nice (if simple) explanation of the Greenhouse effect
CO2 and Climate Change - good explanation
B. Expand Your Knowledge
Ocean currents and Global Warming 1
Ocean currents and Global Warming 2