Changes in Global CO2
Provided by: Paleontological Research Institution|Published on: April 27, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Mathematics
Authors: Paleontological Research Institution
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 →
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 short video explains the change in carbon dioxide levels in Earth's atmosphere using graphs and data from the Mauna Loa Observatory to demonstrate the trends in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
- The narrator thoroughly explains seasonal variation in vegetation as an explanation for the saw tooth pattern, using NASA imaging to convey global vegetation patterns.
- The video then concludes with increasing carbon dioxide levels being attributed to fossil fuel use and a recognition that the pace with which carbon dioxide is increasing in the atmosphere is speeding up.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The use of credible data and research is effective in describing the problem of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
- The video is short but provides the basics of this concept in a scientific way, using a variety of visual data as evidence.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should be comfortable reading line graphs and describing trends in graphs.
Differentiation
- Consider having students dig deeper into some of the data and graphs presented in the video. Teachers could print off some of the graphs and visual data to have students review before watching the video. Students could discuss their thoughts and observations of the data and formulate questions. Perhaps, then, the video would address their observations and questions.
- Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide is a resource that would pair nicely with this video.
This resource uses empirical data to show that carbon dioxide levels have been increasing since the 1950's. The data, which is publicly available, has a high degree of confidence in its accuracy. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
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.
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