Carbon Dioxide Levels

Carbon Dioxide Levels on the Rise

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Mauna Loa Observatory

Select the location of the Mauna Loa Observatory.

The Mauna Loa Weather Observatory

photo credit: NOAA

Your challenge is to find out how scientists study the levels of CO2 in the atmosphere and how CO2 levels have changed over time.

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Scientists have been measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in Earth's atmosphere at Mauna Loa Observatory for many decades.

CO2 sensors measure the concentration of CO2 in the air .

NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Select the CO2 sensor.

Average Atmospheric CO2 at the Mauna Loa Observatory

Some of the CO2 measurements made at Mauna Loa Observatory are provided in this data table.

NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

It'd be really helpful to see this data in a graph!

Select the data table to graph the CO2 data!

Data Source: NOAA

Position vs. Time

Select the points on the graph that correspond to the data in the data table. The first point is completed. When all 7 points have been added to the graph, they will connect.

Average Atmospheric CO2 at the Mauna Loa Observatory

Average Atmospheric CO2 at the Mauna Loa Observatory

Nice graph! Continue

420

410

400

390

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370

ppm (parts per million)

360

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320

Data Source: NOAA

1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

introduction

write a title here

Average Atmospheric CO2 at the Mauna Loa Observatory

• 317
• 100
• 15
• 3,000

In 1960, about of every 1 million air particles were carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules. Since then, the concentration of carbon dioxide has by almost parts per million.

• increased
• decreased
• not changed

• 100
• 15
• 30

Check

Continue

Not quit. Try again.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) measurements clearly show that the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing. But why?

Click on a carbon dioxide molecule.

Sometimes... to understand the present, it helps to understand the past.

Scientists have come up with a clever way to better understand our atmosphere's past.

It involves REALLY old ice!

Continue

Ice sheets and glaciers contain ice that has been frozen for up to 800,000 years.The deeper the ice, the older it is.

Select the part of this ice sheet that is the oldest.

Scientists drill ice cores from ice that froze at various times throughout history.

Click here for photo credit.

Select the ice core.

The bubbles inside the ice are as old as the ice.Scientists analyze these bubbles and learn about the composition of the atmosphere when the ice froze.

Click here for photo Credit

Select the ice core.

By studying the bubbles in really old ice, scientists have been able to estimate the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere for the past 800,000 years.

Select one of the points on the graph that represents a low concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere during the past 800,000 years.

The dashed line shows the increase in CO2 over the last 100 years.

What happened to CO2 levels over the last 100 years?

Last 100 Years

CO2 levels dropped.

CO2 levels remained about the same.

CO2 levels increased to over 100 ppm over the previous high.

That's correct. The amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased to levels that are MUCH higher than any time during the past 800,000 years.

What changed?

Last 100 Years

Select here to find out what caused the dramatic increase in CO2 levels.

Starting during the industrial revolution in 1750, humans began burning fossil fuels at higher and higher rates.Burning fossils fuels releases a lot of extra CO2 into the atmosphere.

Human activity results in the release A LOT OF CO2!

Select the part of the graph that corresponds to the time that human activity caused increased CO2 levels.

Factories like the one shown in the image emit exhaust with a mix of water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), and other gases from burning coal and oil for energy.

Select the factory exhaust.

Vehicles burn gasoline for power, releasing exhaust that contains water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), and other gases into the air.

Maybe we'll all be riding in solar-powered cars one day!

Select the car exhaust.

Click on the image that shows all of the infrared energy escaping Earth's atmosphere.

Farming releases CO2 into the air by using fuel-burning machinesand cutting down trees, which are important for absorbing CO2.

Select the tractor that releases CO2 into the atmosphere as it burns fuel.

Homes and businesses add CO2 to the air by using electricity and gas for things like heating, cooling, and lights, which mostly come from burning fuels.

Select the coal that is burned to generate electricity.

When the coral is stressed, the algae that live on, feed, give the coral color leave.

Select the human activities that increase the levels of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Transportation: Planes, trains, cars, etc.

Farming

The generation of electricity from burning coal and other fossil fuels

Building new stores, homes, office buildings, and roads

Factories- such as those that make computers, clothes, and bicycles

Planting trees.

Not quite. Try again.

Continue

Check

Click here to read an awesome ASU article on planton.

In summary...

photo credit: NOAA

Scientists, such as those at the Muana Loa observatory, have been and recording the CO2 levels in the atmosphere for the past several decades.

• measuring
• skiing
• going to the beach

• ice core
• soil
• cheese

Scientists have also been able to use very old ice core samples to determine the CO2 levels of the atmosphere during the past 800,000 years.

Photo Credit

As a result of these measurements, scientists have learned that human since the start of the industrial revolution has caused CO2 levels to increase to levels well beyond the levels that have been normal for Earth's atmosphere during the past 800,000 years.

• human activity
• volcanic activity
• tree planting

• increase
• decrease
• remain constant

Continue

Not quite. Try again.

Check

The Mauna Loa Weather Observatory

You completed the challenge! Maybe one day you'll be a scientist that helps us better understand the changes in our atmosphere.

photo credit: NOAA

photo credit: NOAA

In 1960, about of every 1 million air particles were carbon dioxide (CO2) molecules. Since then, the concentration of carbon dioxide has by almost parts per million.

• 317
• 100
• 15
• 3,000

• 100
• 15
• 30

• increased
• decreased
• not changed

Continue

Not quit. Try again.

Check

Return to map.

You successfully completed the challenge! Maybe one day you'll be a scientist that helps protect coral reefs.

Continue

Welcome to Greenland!

Click on the glacier.

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by an ice sheet (one gigantic glacier).

An INCREDIBLE amount of frozen water!

Click on Greenland in the image of Earth.

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.

As more CO2 and other greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere, the Earth gets warmer. Evidence that the Earth is warming can clearly be seen in Greenland... WHERE THERE'S LOTS OF ICE!

What happens to solid water (ice) when it warms up?

It disappears.

It turns from solid to liquid. In other words, it melts.

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.

That's right, ice melts when it warms up.

The glaciers that make up the Greenland Ice Sheet are melting faster than they have melted in the past 12,000 years.

image credit

Greenland in 2013

Greenland in early 1900s

image credit

Click on the image that shows a river where ice used to be.

Welcome to the Greenland!

Scientists have realized that not only are warmer air temperatures melting the glaciers, but warmer salt water is also causing the giant chunks of ice to break off at a high rate.

Click on the glacier to learn more about how glaciers melt.

Welcome to the Greenland!

melt

Answer the questions throughout this video from NASA. The code word you need to move on is at the end of the video.

Enter the code word provided at the end of the video.

lowercase letters only

Continue

This graph show the daily melt area for the Greenland Ice Sheet from April 1 through October 31, with 2021 shown in blue, 2020 in green line, and 2019 in orange. The grey areas show the average daily melt area for 1981 to 2010.

This graph shows the daily melt area for the Greenland Ice Sheet from April 1 through October 31, with 2021 shown in blue, 2020 in green line, and 2019 in orange. The dark grey line shows the medium melt area for 1981 to 2010.

*hint

Click on the point of the graph that corresponds to the largest median area melted between 1981 and 2010.

This graph shows the daily melt area for the Greenland Ice Sheet from April 1 through October 31, with 2021 shown in blue, 2020 in green line, and 2019 in orange. The dark grey line shows the medium melt area for 1981 to 2010.

Largest median area melted between 1981 and 2010

*hint

Click on the point of the graph that corresponds to the largest melt area between 1981 and 2021.

Great work! The code for this location is 150.

Return to map.

This graph show the daily melt area for the Greenland Ice Sheet from April 1 through October 31, with 2021 shown in blue, 2020 in green line, and 2019 in orange. The grey areas show the average daily melt area for 1981 to 2010.

• measuring
• skiing
• going to the beach

Largest area melted between 1981 and 2021

• ice core
• soil
• cheese

• increase
• decrease
• remain constant

Largest median area melted between 1981 and 2010

• human activity
• volcanic activity
• tree planting

When comparing he During the month of August in 2019, almost 1,000,000 square kilometers of the Greenland Ice Sheet melted. This is about 3 times the largest area that melted for the median of melted areas between 1981 to 2010.

This graph show the daily melt area for the Greenland Ice Sheet from April 1 through October 31, with 2021 shown in blue, 2020 in green line, and 2019 in orange. The grey areas show the average daily melt area for 1981 to 2010.

Click on the point of the graph that corresponds to the largest melt area between 1981 and 2021.

As a result of the warming atmosphere and oceans, Greenland’s ice is melting rapidly, and the melt is accelerating. Since 2002, sea levels have risen by about 2.5 inches, or 63 millimeters. Sea level rise increases coastal flooding and eventually will inundate some coastal communities. Reference: Watkins et al., 2015, doi: 10.1002/2014JB011547; GRACE and GRACE Follow-On JPL RL06Mv2 data

Click on Greenland on the Image of Earth

As a result of the warming atmosphere and oceans, Greenland’s ice is melting rapidly, and the melting rate is accelerating.

Where does the melted ice go?

The End Fountain

Into the Ocean

To Space

Yes, the melted ice from Greenland's Ice Sheet and other glaciers around the world goes into the oceans and causes their levels to increase.

Sea Level Variations Since 1993

Credit: Climate.nasa.gov

Since 1993, Earth's sea levels have increased by about __________.

50 millimeters (or 5 cm)

100 millimeters (or 10 cm)

1000 millimeters (or 100 cm)

As the world's ice sheets and glaciers melt, the sea level _________.

Click on Greenland on the Image of Earth

Sea Level Variations Since 1993

Credit: Climate.nasa.gov

Since 1993, Earth's sea levels have increased by about __________.

50 millimeters (or 5 cm)

100 millimeters (or 10 cm)

1000 millimeters (or 100 cm)

100 millimeters (10 cm- about the height of a pencil), may not seem like a big increase in sea level.

But, it's A LOT of extra water.

Click on the water.

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

In addition to amplifying storm surge because the water starts at a higher level, sea level rise increases high-tide flooding, which has doubled in the United States over the past 30 years and is expected to rapidly worsen in the coming decades.

Higher sea levels result in more tidal floods, which are floods that happens due to normal high tides.

Tidal flooding has doubled in the United States in the last 30 years.

Click on street that is flooded due to tidal flooding.

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

As a result of the higher sea levels, Storm surges are more common and more extreme.

In addition to amplifying storm surge because the water starts at a higher level, sea level rise increases high-tide flooding, which has doubled in the United States over the past 30 years and is expected to rapidly worsen in the coming decades.

high tide

Just a small increase in sea levels causes an increase in floods that happens due to normal high tides.

High Tide

High Tide

Before increase in sea levels

After 10 cm increase in sea levels

high tide

high tide

Click on diagram that shows tidal flooding.

Tidal flooding has doubled in the United States in the last 30 years.

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

As a result of the higher sea levels, Storm surges are more common and more extreme.

Higher sea levels more tidal floods, which are floods that happens due to normal high tides.

In addition to amplifying storm surge because the water starts at a higher level, sea level rise increases high-tide flooding, which has doubled in the United States over the past 30 years and is expected to rapidly worsen in the coming decades.

Tidal flooding has doubled in the United States in the last 30 years.

Click on street that is flooded due to tidal flooding.

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

In addition to amplifying storm surge because the water starts at a higher level, sea level rise increases high-tide flooding, which has doubled in the United States over the past 30 years and is expected to rapidly worsen in the coming decades.

Another result of the higher sea levels, is that storm surges are more common and more extreme.

Click on the line in the diagram that represents the sea level before the storm surge during normal high tide.

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

In addition to amplifying storm surge because the water starts at a higher level, sea level rise increases high-tide flooding, which has doubled in the United States over the past 30 years and is expected to rapidly worsen in the coming decades.

Another result of the higher sea levels, is that storm surges are more common and more extreme.

Continue

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

In addition to amplifying storm surge because the water starts at a higher level, sea level rise increases high-tide flooding, which has doubled in the United States over the past 30 years and is expected to rapidly worsen in the coming decades.

Storm surges are caused by winds and pressure changes during hurricanes and other storms.

high winds

storm surge

normal high tide

Click on the arrow in the diagram that represents the storm surge water level.

Click on the line in the diagram that represents the storm surge water level .

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

In addition to amplifying storm surge because the water starts at a higher level, sea level rise increases high-tide flooding, which has doubled in the United States over the past 30 years and is expected to rapidly worsen in the coming decades.

With increased sea levels, the storm surges reach much farther onto land.

After 10 cm increase in sea levels

Before increase in sea levels

high winds

high winds

storm surge

storm surge

normal high tide

normal high tide

Click on the arrow in the diagram that represents the storm surge water level after the increase in sea levels.

Click on the line in the diagram that represents the storm surge water level after the increase in sea levels.

Storm surges are more common and more extreme.

Rising sea levels increases coastal floods, which causes incredible damage to ecosystems and properties.

Continue

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

Tidal flooding has doubled in the United States in the last 30 years.

Storm surges are more common and more extreme.

As a result of the higher sea levels, storm surges are more common and more extreme.

Tidal flooding has doubled in the United States in the last 30 years.

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

But, it's A LOT of water. And that water builds up unevenly during various weather events.

Storm surges are more common and more extreme.

Tidal flooding has doubled in the United States in the last 30 years.

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

But, it's A LOT of water. And that water builds up unevenly during various weather events.

Storm surges are more common and more extreme.

As a result of the higher sea levels, storm surges are more common and more extreme.

Not good

Tidal flooding has doubled in the United States in the last 30 years.

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

But, it's A LOT of water. And that water builds up unevenly during various weather events.

Great Work! Click here.

Drag the images so they are above correct captions. Once all are correct, a message will appear.

Sea Levels (mm)

The extra CO2 traps heat that would otherwise escape into space.

As Earth warms up, glaciers and ice sheets melt faster.

Humans release a lot of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Water from melted glaciers and ice sheets cause sea levels to rise.

Higher sea levels have caused tidal flooding to double in the US over the last 30 years.

Higher sea levels cause storm surges to be frequent and more extreme.

Flooding around the world has increased dramatically as a result of the higher sea levels.

As a result of the higher sea levels, Storm surges are more common and more extreme.

In addition to amplifying storm surge because the water starts at a higher level, sea level rise increases high-tide flooding, which has doubled in the United States over the past 30 years and is expected to rapidly worsen in the coming decades.

Nice work! The code for this section is 2552.

Return to map.

Just for fun, try out this sea level quiz from NASA.

https://climate.nasa.gov/quizzes/sea-level-quiz/

Data source: NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS). Credit: NASA/GISS

This warming trend is concerning... small changes in temperature have big consequences.

Why is the Earth's surface warming up so quickly?

Worst Case Scenario

Best Case Scenario

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Common_Era_Temperature.svg

Efbrazil, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Graphic credit and information

Efbrazil, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Click here to learn what is causing the Earth to warm up so quickly.

What is the trend of this graph?

NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio, Key and Title by uploader (Eric Fisk), CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

By RCraig09 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=102770581

Click on the ultimate source of energy for life.

Yes, sunlight provides the energy needed for all life on Earth to live and grow. Sunlight also provides the energy that keeps Earth warm enough for life.

Click on the plant.

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.

This image shows how sunlight (yellow) enters the atmosphere and heats the Earth.

infrared waves

sunlight

This gif was made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!

Click on a part of the diagram that represents sunlight energy that heats the Earth.

Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.

As the Earth is warmed by the sunight, it emits infrared energy (red). Some of the infrared energy escapes the atmosphere and travels out to space.

infrared waves

sunlight

This gif was made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!

Click on a part of the diagram that repsents infrared energy leaving Earth's atmosphere.

Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.

Some of the infrared energy gets trapped within the atmosphere by greenhouse gases like CO2.

infrared waves

sunlight

This gif was made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!

Click on a part of the diagram that repsents infrared energy that gets trapped within Earth's atmosphere.

Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.

Without the greenhouse gases, the Earth would be too cold for life to exist.

infrared waves

sunlight

This gif was made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!

Click on a one of the images that represent life that would not be possible if it were too cold on Earth.

Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.

These gifs were made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!

These three images simulate what happens to infrared energy with varying levels of green house gases in the atmosphere.

High concentration of CO2 and other geenhouse gases

No geenhouse gases

Medium concentration of CO2 and other geenhouse gases

Click on the image that shows all of the infrared energy escaping Earth's atmosphere.

Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.

These gifs were made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!

Yes! In the first image, all of the infrared energy leaves Earth's atmosphere.

Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).

High concentration of CO2 and other geenhouse gases

No geenhouse gases

Medium concentration of CO2 and other geenhouse gases

Earth's temperature would be _________ if there were no greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

much higher

much lower

about the same

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.

These gifs were made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!

That's correct, without greenhouse gases the Earth would be MUCH colder. What happens if the level of greenhouse gases increases to high levels?

High concentration of CO2 and other geenhouse gases

No geenhouse gases

Medium concentration of CO2 and other geenhouse gases

Click on the image that shows the most infrared energy getting trapped in Earth's atmosphere.

Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).

Earth's temperature would be _________ if there were no greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

much higher

much lower

about the same

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.

These gifs were made using PhET's greenhouse gas simulation. Click here to use it!

You got it. The third image shows the most infrared energy being trapped by the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Simulation by PhET Interactive Simulations, University of Colorado Boulder, licensed under CC-BY-4.0 (https://phet.colorado.edu).

High concentration of CO2 and other geenhouse gases

No geenhouse gases

Medium concentration of CO2 and other geenhouse gases

Earth's temperature _________ as greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere.

decreases

does not change

increases

Click on the image that shows all of the infrared energy escaping Earth's atmosphere.

Sunlight

Almost 80% of Greenland is covered by a giant sheet of ice.

Some radiation from the sun reflects off the greenhouse gases, such as CO2, and Earth's atmosphere. Most of the radiation is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere and warms it.

Great work! For a quick review, answer the questions throughout this video from the US EPA. The code word you need to move on is at the end of the video.

warm

Enter the code word provided at the end of the video.

lowercase letters only

CONTINUE

This video was created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

2020

1960

1980

2000

1900

1920

1940

Credit: NASA Scientific Visualization Studio

This graphic illustrates the change in global surface temperature relative to 1951-1980 average temperatures.

Graph Credit: Carbon Brief

Click here to get a sharable link.