Calculating the Rate of Change of Atmospheric CO2
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Provided by: Paleontological Research Institution|Published on: July 7, 2022
Activity - ClassroomScientist Reviewed
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Scientist Reviewed This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This activity involves drawing best-fit lines on a data graph and calculating the slopes of those lines to compare the rate of increase in CO2 concentrations over different time periods.
- Students will learn about the global carbon cycle, the natural and human causes of CO2 emissions, seasonal variations in atmospheric concentrations, and the mathematical formula for calculating the slope of a line.
Subjects: Chemistry, Biology, Earth and Space Sciences, Mathematics
Authors: Paleontological Research Institution
Region: North America, USA - West, United States, Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This resource is technical but is written in a way that students will understand.
- The scientific writing at the beginning of the resource does an excellent job of setting up the activity and giving meaning to the mathematical work that comes later.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be able to read a graph and perform division problems.
Differentiation
- Connections can be made to health and social studies classes by discussing the impacts of global warming on human health and well being.
- This could be a great way to add in climate change and global warming topics into math classes.
- Other related resources include this video about CO2 in the ice core record, this activity that lets students check their carbon footprint, and this interactive resource that allows students to see the biggest carbon drivers for specific places around the world.
Scientist Notes
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Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
Paleontological Research Institution
Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) is a national leader in Earth systems science education. They strive to help make sense of the present and potential future climate change, while also increasing understanding of global change in Earth’s past. Their programs focus on systems thinking, understanding scale and learning in your own backyard.
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
