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