The Atmosphere and You Lab Report Instructions: Record your ✓ Solved

Record your observations in the lab report below. Include your name, instructor's name, date, and name of lab. In your own words, what was the purpose of the lab? Include the if/then statements you developed during your lab activity, which reflect your predicted outcomes for the experiment.

Complete your hypothesis. Identify the independent (test) variable and the dependent (outcome) variable. Practice using the computer model. Select each marker to see what it does: Carbon Dioxide Emissions Slider, Time Step Size, Start Over. The current carbon emissions are 9.8 gigatons. Complete all three scenarios to find out what happens to the global temperature if these emissions stay the same, decrease, or increase over the next century. In the Data section, record the carbon dioxide emission rate and the global temperature for each scenario.

Scenario One: Carbon dioxide emissions stay the same. Set the carbon dioxide emissions rate to 9.8 gigatons and the time step size to 10 years. Record the data in the table provided.

Scenario Two: Carbon dioxide emissions decrease. Set the carbon dioxide emissions rate to 9.8 gigatons, and decrease it by 0.2 for each step forward until you reach 2110. Record this data.

Scenario Three: Carbon dioxide emissions increase. Set the carbon dioxide emissions rate to 9.8 gigatons, and increase it by 0.2 for each step forward until you reach 2110. Record this data.

Conclusion: Summarize how the carbon emissions affected the atmospheric temperature in each of the three scenarios. Was your hypothesis supported by your results or not? Explain. Explain the difference between the greenhouse effect and global warming. Based on your knowledge of how the greenhouse effect works, why does the level of carbon dioxide affect the global temperature? Name three sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Paper For Above Instructions

The laboratory experiment titled "The Atmosphere and You" aims to explore the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and global temperatures over time. The primary objective of this lab is to understand how different emissions scenarios impact atmospheric temperatures by utilizing a computer model that simulates these variables.

The hypothesis for this experiment is framed as follows: If carbon dioxide emissions increase, then global temperatures will rise; if emissions decrease, then global temperatures will fall or stabilize. This hypothesis sets the stage for observing the interplay between human-induced emissions and their environmental impact.

During the experiment, the independent variable is the carbon dioxide emission rate, while the dependent variable is the global temperature. Using the computer model, I had the opportunity to adjust various settings including the emissions rate and the time step size, which notably exemplifies how nuanced changes impact long-term climate forecasts.

Data Collection and Analysis

In Scenario One, the emissions rate was maintained at 9.8 gigatons. The temperature data recorded for the years leading to 2110 showed a gradual increase, confirming the model’s prediction of stable emissions leading to a consistent rise in temperature. The recorded temperature changes indicated a direct correlation with the constant emissions level.

In Scenario Two, the model allowed for a stepwise decrease in carbon dioxide emissions, starting from 9.8 gigatons and reducing it by 0.2 gigatons each subsequent year. The resultant temperature findings illustrated a gradual stabilization and slight decline in global temperatures over the century, which highlights the premise that reduced emissions lead to a positive effect on atmospheric conditions and help mitigate warming.

Scenario Three permitted an increase in emissions by 0.2 gigatons per year. The results depicted a sharp rise in global temperatures, substantiating the hypothesis that elevated emissions correlate directly with increasing temperature trends. This scenario painted a dire picture of unchecked emissions exacerbating global warming phenomena.

Conclusion and Discussion

Summarizing the effects of carbon emissions on atmospheric temperature, it was clear that Scenario One presented a steady increase in temperature reflective of constant emissions. Scenario Two demonstrated the importance of reducing emissions, as lower carbon outputs resulted in negligible warming effects, suggesting a potential for climate stabilization through systematic emissions cuts. Finally, Scenario Three unequivocally indicated that rising emissions precipitate marked increases in temperature, highlighting the urgent need for action against climate change.

The initial hypothesis was supported by the outcomes observed in the experiments. As emissions fluctuated according to the defined scenarios, the resultant temperature changes aligned with the predictions made in the hypothesis. The tangible data collected corroborated the initial assumptions that higher carbon levels lead directly to increased atmospheric heating.

Distinguishing between the greenhouse effect and global warming is crucial for understanding climate science. The greenhouse effect refers to the natural process whereby greenhouse gases (GHGs) trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to a warm climate suitable for life. Global warming, however, describes the ongoing rise in Earth’s average temperature due to human activities, particularly the emission of GHGs like carbon dioxide, which enhance the greenhouse effect beyond natural levels.

Understanding the mechanics of the greenhouse effect elucidates why carbon dioxide levels directly impact global temperatures. Carbon dioxide, as a significant greenhouse gas, traps heat efficiently; thus, higher concentrations in the atmosphere lead to increased thermal retention and warmer global temperatures.

Three predominant sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide include combustion of fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, and natural gas), deforestation (reducing the number of trees available to absorb CO₂), and certain industrial processes (such as cement production). These sources collectively contribute to the greenhouse gas concentrations driving climate change.

References

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