Download Document

Carbon Dioxide Process Tool
Power 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 literacy
Long Term Ecological Research Math Science Partnership
2012
Disclaimer: 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 ?
The graph below shows carbon dioxide concentrations in the
atmosphere in parts per million (ppm) from 1958 until the present.
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 ?
1. Review Processes
ATMOSPHERIC CO2
Direct Air to
Sea Exchange
(dissolution)
Process
Process
Plants and
Animals
Process
Human use
Oceans
Process
Stored CO2 – Fossil Fuels
• Basic principle: Accumulation
happens when inputs are greater
than outputs
• For carbon cycle:
-Inputs to atmosphere = sources
-Outputs from atmosphere = sinks
(land and ocean)
The atmosphere
120
120
0
Plants,
animals
and soil
Human
Fuels
Oil
Natural Gas
70
70
Oceans
Coal
Before human civilization...
The atmosphere
121
122
7
Plants,
animals
and soil
Human
Fuels
Oil
Natural Gas
90
92
Oceans
More CO2
dissolved in
oceans
1 Gt/yr from
deforestation
2 Gt/yr from
regrowth of
forests
Coal
In the year 2005
The atmosphere
90
Plants,
animals
and soil
Human
Fuels
Oil
Natural Gas
92
Oceans
Coal
What numbers must be present in the empty
boxes to make the movement of carbon into and
out of the atmosphere balance?
One possible solution
The atmosphere
Reduce
deforestation
4
122
120
Plants,
animals
and soil
Human
Fuels
Oil
Natural Gas
90
92
Oceans
Coal
Reduce
emissions from
energy use
Maintain
regrowth of
forests
Concentration stabilization scenario
Movement of Carbon in every year
during the years 2020 - 2030
Mauna Loa Observatory, Hawaii
Monthly Average Carbon Dioxide Concentration
(stablization projection)
The atmosphere
410
120
122
Plants
and animals
Oil
4
Human
energy use
Natural Gas
90
92
Oceans
Coal
CO2 Concentration (ppm)
400
390
380
370
360
350
340
330
320
310
1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Year
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.
Figure 4. This shows the concentration of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere in parts per million
(ppm) if levels are stabilized by 2020.
2020
2030
Challenge #1 - How to make this
fun, relevant, and not depressing
CO2
CO2
CO2
electricity
CO2
CO2
Understanding how the earth
works and how humans fit in is
cool
Sustainability will provide new
opportunities
You are not a bad person if you drive
a car; you are just a contemporary
human. What will a future human
materials
drive?
Individual behavior matters.
Collective behavior matters more.
There will still be electric guitars in
the future.
We will figure this out. Enjoy the
ride. Be part of it.
 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