Our Changing Atmosphere
Synopsis
- In this activity, students will look at seasonal fluctuations and graph the monthly Mauna Loa CO2 atmospheric data.
- Students will interpret the data and evaluate the upward trend in the data over time.
Teaching Materials
Prerequisites:
Ensure students know how to plot data on a line graph.
Ensure students are familiar with CO2 and how it is released into the atmosphere.
Differentiation:
There is enough data for students to work in small groups and have each group contribute a different graph to the class.
For younger students, consider graphing the data or interpreting the graphs as a whole class.
Climate Change Connections:
Discuss the effect CO2 and other greenhouse gases have on the atmosphere and our planet.
Interdisciplinary Connections:
Language Arts:
Students use their observations of the data as evidence in an informative essay about atmospheric CO2 levels.
Extensions:
Students can graph other climate-related datasets, such as global temperature rise, sea level rise, or phenological data.
Scientist Reviewed
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