The Mauna Loa atmospheric CO 2 measurements constitute the longest continuous re

Question

The Mauna Loa atmospheric CO2 measurements constitute the longest continuous record of atmospheric CO2 concentrations available in the world. The Mauna Loa site is considered one of the most favorable locations for measuring undisturbed air because possible local influences of vegetation or human activities on atmospheric CO2 concentrations are minimal and any influences from volcanic vents may be excluded from the records. The methods and equipment used to obtain these measurements have remained essentially unchanged during the 43-year monitoring program.

Because of the favorable site location, continuous monitoring, and careful selection and scrutiny of the data, the Mauna Loa record is considered to be a precise record and a reliable indicator of the regional trend in the concentrations of atmospheric CO2 in the middle layers of the troposphere.

#1. I have randomly selected six measurements collected at the Mauna Loa sampling site between 1986 and 1993 and highlighted the data in light blue. Plot the six points on the given graph above. Based on your data, is CO2 increasing or decreasing? Determine the rate of increase/decrease by calculating the slope of the line (remember back to high school science that slope=Y/X or change in y-variable divided by change in x-variable) that best passes through your six data points.

#2. The CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is a concern because of it being an important greenhouse gas. High concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contribute to global warming. How many years will it take for the CO2 concentration to double its 1993 content?

#3. I have highlighted six more measurements in red this time for the single year of 1988. Plot these six data points on your graph above. Does this change your interpretation? What new detail is added to the relationship when the more complete data is plotted? Why might CO2 vary throughout an individual year? Maybe think about photosynthesis by plants where CO2 and H2O are converted into sugars and oxygen.

#4. Below is some of the most recent CO2 data from Mauna Loa. Are CO2 levels higher or lower than those from the last part of the previous table? What is one aspect of global warming that concerns you most?

Year Jan. Feb. March Apail May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Annual Annual-Fit 975 330.40 331.41 332.04 333.31 333.96 333.59 331.91 330.06 328.56 328.34 329.49 330.76 331.15 331.16 1976 331.74 332.56 333.50 334.58 334.87 334.34 333.05 330.94 329.30 328.94 330.31 331.68 332.15 332.18 1977 332.92 333.41 334.70 336.07 336.74 336.27 334.93 332.75 331.58 331.16 332.40 333.85 333.90 333.88 1978 334.97 335.39 336.64 337.76 338.01 337.89 336.54 334.68 332.76 332.54 333.92 334.95 335.50 335.52 979 336.23 336.76 337.96 338.89 339.47 339.29 337.73 336.09 333.91 333.86 335.29 336.73 336.85 336.89 1980 338.01 338.36 340.08 340.77 34146 341.17 339.56 337.60 335.88 336.02 337.10 338.21 338.69 338.67 981 339.23 340.47 341.38 342.51 342.91 342.25 340.49 338.43 336.69 336.85 338.36 339.61 339.93 339.95 1982 340.75 341.61 342.70 343.57 344.13 343.35 342.06 339.82 337.97 337.86 339.26 340.49 341.13 341.09 1983 341.37 342.52 343.10 344.94 345.75 345.32 343.99 342.39 339.86 339.99 341.16 342.99 342.78 342.75 1984 343.70 344.50 345.29 347.08 347.43 346.79 345.40 343.28 341.07 341.35 342.98 344.22 344.42 344.44 1985 344.97 346.00 347.43 348.35 348.93 348.25 346.56 344.69 343.09 342.80 344.24 345.56 345.91 345.87 1986 346.29 346.96 347.86 349.55 350.21 349.54 347.94 345.91 344.86 344.17 345.66 346.90 347.15 347.14 987 348.02 348.47 349.42 350.99 351.84 351.25 349.52 348.11 346.44 346.36 347.81 348.96 348.93 348.99 1988 350.43 352.2254.22S1352.39 1348.728350.07351.48 351.44 1989 352.76 353.07 353.68 355.42 355.67 355.13 353.90 351.67 349.80 349.99 351.30 352.53 352.91 352.94 990 353.66 354.70 355.39 356.20 357.16 356.22 354.82 352.91 350.96 351.18 352.83 354.21 354.19 354.19 1991 354.72 355.75 357.16 358.60 359.33 358.24 356.18 354.03 352.16 352.21 353.75 354.99 355.59 355.62 1992 355.98 356.72 357.81 359.15 359.66 359.25 357.03 355.00 353.01 353.31 354.16 355.40 356.37 356.36 1993 356.70 357.16 358.38 359.46 360.28 359.59 357.58 355.52 353.70 353.98 355.33 356.80 357.04 357.10 1994 358.36 358.91 359.97 361.27 361.68 360.94 359.55 357.49 355.84 355.99 357.58 359.04 358.89 358.86 1995 359.96 361.00 361.64 363.45 363.79 363.26 36190 359.46 358.06 357.75 359.56 360.70 360.88 360.90 1996 362.05 36325 364.02 364.72 365.41 364.97 363.65 36149 359.46 359.60 360.76 362.33 362.64 362.58 1997 363.18 364.00 364.56 366.36 366.80 365.62 364.47 362.51 360.19 360.77 362.43 364.28 363.76 363.84 1998 365.32 366.15 367.31 368.61 369.30 368.87 367.64 365.77 363.90 364.23 365.46 366.97 366.63 366.58 1999 368.15 368.86 369.58 371.12 370.97 370.32 369.25 366.91 364.60 365.09 366.63 367.96 368.29 368.28 2000 369.08 369.40 370.45 371.59 371.75 371.62 370.04 368.04 366.53 366.63 368.20 369.43 369.40 369.40 223333333 3333344444445

Explanation / Answer

1. Plot youself in the provided graph paper. unable to submit it with exact graph paper

# CO2 is increasing.

# Slope is 1.5

2. At the end of 1993, the concentration of CO2 is 357.10 ppm, it is very difficult to tell about the time when it got doubled because growth rate is not exactly the same if you see the trend.

However, one can use the Q#1 slope value ( i.e. growth rate of 1.5 ppm/yr ) to calculate the doubling time. (roughly around 238 years).

3. If you plot the data ,you will find the seasonality. CO2 shows strong seasonal cycle. This is related to photosynthesis by plants.  Plant photosynthesize more in the spring and summer, as a result they consume CO2 from the atmosphere and eventually use it as a carbon source for growth and reproduction. This causes the decrease in CO2 levels . Once winter arrives, plants save energy by decreasing photosynthesis. As a resuts, amount of co2 in the atmosphere is more than the summer. Keeling curve best explains the phenomena.

4. Obvious CO2 value is more and it is in increasing trends. Also growth rate are not same. Global warming is a threat to many species on the earth. Due to global warming, glaciers are malting down rapidly as a result sea level is rising which has several impacts. Also due to increase in atmospheric CO2, ocean acidification is accelerating which results in changing monsoon and other circulation.

There are many possiblity to write this answer.

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