Asignment:
Would you expect to see an increase or decrease in CO2 emissions in the data over the past 40 years? Why?
Purpose: To measure the amount of carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere in the past 40 years.
Introduction: Carbon dioxide (C02) is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation (1). It is continually emitted into the atmosphere and is considered a greenhouse gas. It is expect to cause global warming of about "1.5-4.5C by the end of this century" (1). The increase in C02 is caused by the burning of fossil fuels as a source of energy. Deforestation has caused the burning of tree and other vegetation which does not allow the biosphere to remove C02 from the atmosphere (1). The "green house effect" is the effect of gases absorbing outgoing infrared rays and warming the air at the Earth's surface. Unfortunately, we are adding additional gases to the atmosphere and causing the atmosphere to warm up.
Hypothesis: The continued release of C02 to the atmosphere will cause global warming and climate changes around the world.
Method: An instrument to measure C02 must be used. The instrument uses, "The non-dispersive infrared technique in which the infrared absorbance of C02 is measured" (1). Scientists can use the instrument to measure C02 in their backyard every day for the next 40 years. Measurement of the C02 readings must be collected and recorded across the country and a chart is made to see if the C02 level increase over the successive time points. We also need a tank filled and sealed full of air (2). The independent variable is the concentration of C02. The dependent variable is the temperature of the air in the tank (2). We will used the infrared thermometer to measure the level of C02 in the tank (2). If the temperature of the air in the tank is warm, then the C02 level is high (2). If the temperature of air in the tank is low, then the C02 level is low. The control variable is the starting temperature of the air in the tank (2).
Discussion:
According to the result table above, the level of C02 from the atmosphere or air increased gradually over time. This is expected because we know that the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation around the world leads to the emission of C02 (1). The industrialization of our civilization led to a gradual increase in C02 as a result of the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. According to scientists, "The average rate of C02 increase was 1.49 ppm between 1959 and present. Data from Manua Loa, a remote volcano in the Pacific has the highest level of C02 at a whopping 3.26 ppm in 2013" (2). The constant rise in C02 levels could warm up the planet causing extreme weather (2). India and China have reported the coldest winters in years and Australia has recorded the hottest summer (2). Based on the experiment, we must stop using fossil fuel and eliminate the deforestation of our forests.
Attachment:- chart.rar