Post on 13-Jan-2016
Carbon Dioxide Process ToolPower point Presentation to accompany Carbon Teaching Experiment
Written by: Jonathon SchrammA, Eric KeelingB, Dijanna FigueroaC, Lindsay MohanA, Michele JohnsonC, and Charles W. AndersonA
Culturally relevant ecology, learning progressions and environmental literacyLong Term Ecological Research Math Science Partnership
2012Disclaimer: This research is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation: Targeted Partnership:
Culturally relevant ecology, learning progressions and environmental literacy (NSF-0832173). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily
reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Why is CO2 accumulating in the atmosphere and what can be
done about it ?
Questions to consider: 1.Explain the annual periodicity of the above curve?2.What inferences can you make about CO2 concentrations for the next 50 years ?
The graph below shows carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere in parts per million (ppm) from 1958 until the present.
ATMOSPHERIC CO2
Stored CO2 – Fossil Fuels
Human use
Process
Direct Air to Sea Exchange(dissolution)
Process
Process
Plants and Animals
Oceans
Process
1. Review Processes
• Basic principle: Accumulation
happens when inputs are greater
than outputs
• For carbon cycle:
-Inputs to atmosphere = sources -Outputs from atmosphere = sinks (land and ocean)
120 120 70 70
Oil
OceansHuman Fuels
The atmosphere
CoalNatural Gas
0
Before human civilization...
Plants, animals and soil
121 122 90 92
Plants, animals and soil
Oil
OceansHuman Fuels
The atmosphere
CoalNatural Gas
7
In the year 2005
1 Gt/yr from deforestation1 Gt/yr from deforestation
More CO2 dissolved in
oceans
More CO2 dissolved in
oceans
2 Gt/yr from regrowth of
forests
2 Gt/yr from regrowth of
forests
90 92
Oil
OceansHuman Fuels
The atmosphere
CoalNatural Gas
What numbers must be present in the empty boxes to make the movement of carbon into and out of the atmosphere balance?
Plants, animals and soil
90 92
Oil
OceansHuman Fuels
The atmosphere
CoalNatural Gas
122122120120 44
Reduce deforestation
Reduce deforestation
Maintain regrowth of
forests
Maintain regrowth of
forests
Reduce emissions from
energy use
Reduce emissions from
energy use
One possible solution
Plants, animals and soil
Movement of Carbon in every year during the years 2020 - 2030
Figure 4. This shows the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in parts per million (ppm) if levels are stabilized by 2020.
Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii
Monthly Average Carbon Dioxide Concentration(stablization projection)
310
320
330
340
350
360
370
380
390
400
410
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030
Year
CO
2 C
on
cen
trat
ion
(p
pm
)
Figure 3. This shows the movement of carbon in every year for the years 2020 – 2030. The numbers stand for billions of tons of carbon.
120 90 92
Plants and animals
Oil
OceansHuman
energy use
The atmosphere
CoalNatural Gas
120 90 92
Plants and animals
Oil
OceansHuman
energy use
The atmosphere
CoalNatural Gas
Concentration stabilization scenario
122 4
Challenge #1 - How to make this fun, relevant, and not depressing
CO2
CO2
CO2CO2
CO2
electricity
materials
Sustainability will provide new opportunities
Understanding how the earth works and how humans fit in is cool
You are not a bad person if you drive a car; you are just a contemporary human. What will a future human drive?
There will still be electric guitars in the future.
Individual behavior matters. Collective behavior matters more.
We will figure this out. Enjoy the ride. Be part of it.
Challenge #2
Finding Solutions
How can we stabilize carbon emissions over the next 50 years to maintain Carbon emissions instead of continuing on our current path?
http://cmi.princeton.edu/wedges/slides.php