Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide is fundamental to the survival of almost all things on our planet. Plants take 3 of these molecules and fix them together to "trap" the energy of a photon excited electron. This process, known as the Calvin Cycle of Photosynthesis, leads to the formation of Glucose that feeds the majority of organisms on Earth.
Where do plants get the CO2 they need to process the Calvin cycle? Thankfully for plants, we humans produce plenty of CO2. We produce our own energy by consuming glucose and breaking it down with the assistance of oxygen. This aerobic respiration produces plenty of CO2 for plants to use in what is known as the Citric Acid or Krebs Cycle.
We also produce a lot of CO2 through combustion of fossil fuels. Burning 2 octane molecules (one of the primary chemicals in gasoline), produces up to 16 molecules of CO2.
So what does that mean for us? CO2 is an excellent absorber of IR light. As the Earth absorbs the light from the sun, it reflects most of the energy back into space as infrared radiation. Unfortunately, the increased levels of CO2 are causing more light energy to be absorbed and reflected back to the planet.
As CO2 levels are getting more concentrated in the environment, the planet is getting warmer. Unless we decrease the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, by planting more CO2 consuming plants or using fewer fossil fuels, the levels of CO2 will continue to rise, and so will the temps!
Los Angeles has had a problem with smog in the past, but local and state legislation has helped curb some of the noxious air. California is relatively temperate, so modest increases to temperature won't be noticed for some time. But like a frog boiled in water, we'll suffer the consequences. Unless humans make large strides to change their behavior, we might not be the dominant life form on the planet for much longer.
My Carbon Dioxide Heat Maps (10 pts)
Insert your heat map Google Sheet. You must include the following:
(1 pt) Completed Temp (C) column
(1 pt) Completed Temp (F) column
(1 pt) Completed Temp (K) column
(2 pts) A scatter point graph of the data (Temp K vs Room #)
Sylmar Heat MyMaps
Create a Google MyMaps using the pictures and data supplied by the class.
(1 pt) Embed your Google MyMaps
(2 pt) MyMaps has pictures of IR Thermometer field data
(2 pts) Include a downloadable KML/KMZ file for import into Google Earth. Attach this file at the bottom of the page.