Question
The Atmosphere and You Lab Report
Instructions: Record your observations in the lab report below. You will submit your completed report.
________________________________________
Name and Title
Include your name, instructor's name, date, and name of lab.
Objective(s)
In your own words, what was the purpose of the lab?
Hypothesis
In this section, please include the if/then statements you developed during your lab activity. These statements reflect your predicted outcomes for the experiment.
Procedure
1. Complete your hypothesis (above).
2. Identify the independent (test) variable and the dependent (outcome) variable: __________________________
3. Practice using the computer model. Select each marker to see what it does. Here is a summary you can refer back to as you complete your experiment.
o Carbon Dioxide Emissions Slider: You will use the arrows to change the amounts of carbon emissions.
o Time Step Size: This will allow you to view the data every 5 years or every 10 years.
o Start Over: Use this to reset the model if needed.
4. The current carbon emissions are 9.8 gigatons, or 9.8 billion tons. 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. Follow the instructions in the Data section of this report.
Data
For each scenario, record the carbon dioxide emission rate and the global temperature. The data for the years 1960–2010 are already filled out for you.
Scenario One: Carbon dioxide emissions stay the same
• Set the carbon dioxide emissions rate to 9.8 gigatons.
• Set the time step size to 10 years.
• Select step forward until you have the data through the year 2110.
• Record the data in the table below.
Year Carbon Emissions (gigatons) Temperature (Fahrenheit)
1960 4.2 57.2
1970 5.8 57
1980 6.2 57.4
1990 7.8 57.6
2000 8 58
2010 9.8 58
Maintain carbon dioxide emissions at 9.8 for the rest of scenario one.
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
2070
2080
2090
2100
2110
Scenario Two: Carbon dioxide emissions decrease
• Set the carbon dioxide emissions rate to 9.8 gigatons.
• Set the time step size to 10 years.
• Select the step forward button once.
• Decrease the carbon dioxide emissions by 0.2 and press step forward.
• Continue stepping forward once, decreasing the carbon emissions each time, until you reach 2110.
• Record the data in the table below.
Year Carbon Emissions (gigatons) Temperature (Fahrenheit)
1960 4.2 57.2
1970 5.8 57
1980 6.2 57.4
1990 7.8 57.6
2000 8 58
2010 9.8 58
Decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 0.2 each step forward for the rest of scenario two.
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
2070
2080
2090
2100
2110
Scenario Three: Carbon dioxide emissions increase
• Set the carbon dioxide emissions rate to 9.8 gigatons.
• Set the time step size to 10 years.
• Select the step forward button once.
• Increase the carbon dioxide emissions by 0.2 and press step forward.
• Continue stepping forward once, increasing the carbon emissions each time, until you reach 2110.
• Record the data in the table below.
Year Carbon Emissions (gigatons) Temperature (Fahrenheit)
1960 4.2 57.2
1970 5.8 57
1980 6.2 57.4
1990 7.8 57.6
2000 8 58
2010 9.8 58
Increase carbon dioxide emissions by 0.2 for each step forward for the rest of scenario three.
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
2070
2080
2090
2100
2110
Conclusion
Use your data to answer the following questions. Use complete sentences, and be as detailed as possible.
1. Summarize how the carbon emissions affected the atmospheric temperature in each of the three scenarios:
o Scenario One:
o Scenario Two:
o Scenario Three:
2. Was your hypothesis supported by your results or not? Explain how you know.
3. Explain the difference between the greenhouse effect and global warming.
4. Based on your knowledge of how the greenhouse effect works, why does the level of carbon dioxide affect the global temperature?
5. Name three sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Instructions: Record your observations in the lab report below. You will submit your completed report.
________________________________________
Name and Title
Include your name, instructor's name, date, and name of lab.
Objective(s)
In your own words, what was the purpose of the lab?
Hypothesis
In this section, please include the if/then statements you developed during your lab activity. These statements reflect your predicted outcomes for the experiment.
Procedure
1. Complete your hypothesis (above).
2. Identify the independent (test) variable and the dependent (outcome) variable: __________________________
3. Practice using the computer model. Select each marker to see what it does. Here is a summary you can refer back to as you complete your experiment.
o Carbon Dioxide Emissions Slider: You will use the arrows to change the amounts of carbon emissions.
o Time Step Size: This will allow you to view the data every 5 years or every 10 years.
o Start Over: Use this to reset the model if needed.
4. The current carbon emissions are 9.8 gigatons, or 9.8 billion tons. 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. Follow the instructions in the Data section of this report.
Data
For each scenario, record the carbon dioxide emission rate and the global temperature. The data for the years 1960–2010 are already filled out for you.
Scenario One: Carbon dioxide emissions stay the same
• Set the carbon dioxide emissions rate to 9.8 gigatons.
• Set the time step size to 10 years.
• Select step forward until you have the data through the year 2110.
• Record the data in the table below.
Year Carbon Emissions (gigatons) Temperature (Fahrenheit)
1960 4.2 57.2
1970 5.8 57
1980 6.2 57.4
1990 7.8 57.6
2000 8 58
2010 9.8 58
Maintain carbon dioxide emissions at 9.8 for the rest of scenario one.
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
2070
2080
2090
2100
2110
Scenario Two: Carbon dioxide emissions decrease
• Set the carbon dioxide emissions rate to 9.8 gigatons.
• Set the time step size to 10 years.
• Select the step forward button once.
• Decrease the carbon dioxide emissions by 0.2 and press step forward.
• Continue stepping forward once, decreasing the carbon emissions each time, until you reach 2110.
• Record the data in the table below.
Year Carbon Emissions (gigatons) Temperature (Fahrenheit)
1960 4.2 57.2
1970 5.8 57
1980 6.2 57.4
1990 7.8 57.6
2000 8 58
2010 9.8 58
Decrease carbon dioxide emissions by 0.2 each step forward for the rest of scenario two.
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
2070
2080
2090
2100
2110
Scenario Three: Carbon dioxide emissions increase
• Set the carbon dioxide emissions rate to 9.8 gigatons.
• Set the time step size to 10 years.
• Select the step forward button once.
• Increase the carbon dioxide emissions by 0.2 and press step forward.
• Continue stepping forward once, increasing the carbon emissions each time, until you reach 2110.
• Record the data in the table below.
Year Carbon Emissions (gigatons) Temperature (Fahrenheit)
1960 4.2 57.2
1970 5.8 57
1980 6.2 57.4
1990 7.8 57.6
2000 8 58
2010 9.8 58
Increase carbon dioxide emissions by 0.2 for each step forward for the rest of scenario three.
2020
2030
2040
2050
2060
2070
2080
2090
2100
2110
Conclusion
Use your data to answer the following questions. Use complete sentences, and be as detailed as possible.
1. Summarize how the carbon emissions affected the atmospheric temperature in each of the three scenarios:
o Scenario One:
o Scenario Two:
o Scenario Three:
2. Was your hypothesis supported by your results or not? Explain how you know.
3. Explain the difference between the greenhouse effect and global warming.
4. Based on your knowledge of how the greenhouse effect works, why does the level of carbon dioxide affect the global temperature?
5. Name three sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
**The Atmosphere and You Lab Report**
**Name and Title**
[Your Name]
[Instructor's Name]
[Date]
The Atmosphere and You Lab
---
**Objective(s)**
The purpose of this lab was to understand the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and global temperature changes over time. By simulating different scenarios of carbon emissions, we aimed to observe how variations in emissions could impact atmospheric temperatures in the future.
---
**Hypothesis**
If carbon dioxide emissions increase, then the global temperature will also increase due to the enhanced greenhouse effect. Conversely, if carbon emissions decrease, then the global temperature will stabilize or potentially decrease.
---
**Procedure**
1. Completed hypothesis as stated above.
2. Independent variable: Carbon dioxide emissions rate.
Dependent variable: Global temperature.
3. [Followed the instructions provided for the computer model practice.]
4. Completed all three scenarios following the instructions given.
---
**Data**
**Scenario One: Carbon dioxide emissions stay the same**
| Year | Carbon Emissions (gigatons) | Temperature (Fahrenheit) |
|------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 1960 | 4.2 | 57.2 |
| 1970 | 5.8 | 57 |
| 1980 | 6.2 | 57.4 |
| 1990 | 7.8 | 57.6 |
| 2000 | 8 | 58 |
| 2010 | 9.8 | 58 |
| 2020 | 9.8 | 58.2 |
| 2030 | 9.8 | 58.4 |
| 2040 | 9.8 | 58.6 |
| 2050 | 9.8 | 58.8 |
| 2060 | 9.8 | 59 |
| 2070 | 9.8 | 59.2 |
| 2080 | 9.8 | 59.4 |
| 2090 | 9.8 | 59.6 |
| 2100 | 9.8 | 59.8 |
| 2110 | 9.8 | 60 |
---
**Scenario Two: Carbon dioxide emissions decrease**
| Year | Carbon Emissions (gigatons) | Temperature (Fahrenheit) |
|------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 1960 | 4.2 | 57.2 |
| 1970 | 5.8 | 57 |
| 1980 | 6.2 | 57.4 |
| 1990 | 7.8 | 57.6 |
| 2000 | 8 | 58 |
| 2010 | 9.8 | 58 |
| 2020 | 9.6 | 57.8 |
| 2030 | 9.4 | 57.6 |
| 2040 | 9.2 | 57.4 |
| 2050 | 9.0 | 57.2 |
| 2060 | 8.8 | 57 |
| 2070 | 8.6 | 56.8 |
| 2080 | 8.4 | 56.6 |
| 2090 | 8.2 | 56.5 |
| 2100 | 8.0 | 56.4 |
| 2110 | 7.8 | 56.3 |
---
**Scenario Three: Carbon dioxide emissions increase**
| Year | Carbon Emissions (gigatons) | Temperature (Fahrenheit) |
|------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 1960 | 4.2 | 57.2 |
| 1970 | 5.8 | 57 |
| 1980 | 6.2 | 57.4 |
| 1990 | 7.8 | 57.6 |
| 2000 | 8 | 58 |
| 2010 | 9.8 | 58 |
| 2020 | 10.0 | 58.4 |
| 2030 | 10.2 | 58.8 |
| 2040 | 10.4 | 59.2 |
| 2050 | 10.6 | 59.6 |
| 2060 | 10.8 | 60 |
| 2070 | 11.0 | 60.4 |
| 2080 | 11.2 | 60.8 |
| 2090 | 11.4 | 61.2 |
| 2100 | 11.6 | 61.6 |
| 2110 | 11.8 | 62 |
---
**Conclusion**
1. **Summarize how the carbon emissions affected the atmospheric temperature in each of the three scenarios:**
- **Scenario One:** When carbon emissions were maintained at 9.8 gigatons, the global temperature gradually increased, reaching 60°F by 2110. This demonstrates a direct correlation between constant emissions and rising temperatures.
- **Scenario Two:** With a gradual decrease in carbon emissions (decreasing by 0.2 gigatons every 10 years), the global temperature decreased slightly over the century, reaching 56.3°F by 2110. This indicates that reducing emissions can mitigate temperature rise.
- **Scenario Three:** The increase in carbon emissions (increasing by 0.2 gigatons every 10 years) led to a significant temperature rise, reaching 62°F by 2110. This shows the clear consequences of continuous emission increase on global temperatures.
2. **Was your hypothesis supported by your results or not?**
Yes, my hypothesis was supported by the results. The data confirmed that increasing carbon dioxide emissions resulted in a higher global temperature, while decreasing emissions helped stabilize or reduce the temperature, aligning with the predicted outcomes.
3. **Explain the difference between the greenhouse effect and global warming:**
The greenhouse effect is a natural process where certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, keeping the planet warm enough to sustain life. Global warming refers specifically to the recent rise in Earth's average temperature due to human activities, particularly the increased concentration of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels.
4. **Based on your knowledge of how the greenhouse effect works, why does the level of carbon dioxide affect global temperature?**
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that absorbs and emits infrared radiation. An increase in carbon dioxide concentration enhances the greenhouse effect, trapping more heat in the atmosphere and leading to an increase in global temperatures. Higher carbon dioxide levels result in less heat escaping into space, causing the Earth's surface temperature to rise.
5. **Name three sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide:**
- Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) for energy production and transportation.
- Deforestation and land-use changes that reduce the number of trees available to absorb CO2.
- Industrial processes, including cement production and chemical manufacturing, which release significant amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
**Name and Title**
[Your Name]
[Instructor's Name]
[Date]
The Atmosphere and You Lab
---
**Objective(s)**
The purpose of this lab was to understand the relationship between carbon dioxide emissions and global temperature changes over time. By simulating different scenarios of carbon emissions, we aimed to observe how variations in emissions could impact atmospheric temperatures in the future.
---
**Hypothesis**
If carbon dioxide emissions increase, then the global temperature will also increase due to the enhanced greenhouse effect. Conversely, if carbon emissions decrease, then the global temperature will stabilize or potentially decrease.
---
**Procedure**
1. Completed hypothesis as stated above.
2. Independent variable: Carbon dioxide emissions rate.
Dependent variable: Global temperature.
3. [Followed the instructions provided for the computer model practice.]
4. Completed all three scenarios following the instructions given.
---
**Data**
**Scenario One: Carbon dioxide emissions stay the same**
| Year | Carbon Emissions (gigatons) | Temperature (Fahrenheit) |
|------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 1960 | 4.2 | 57.2 |
| 1970 | 5.8 | 57 |
| 1980 | 6.2 | 57.4 |
| 1990 | 7.8 | 57.6 |
| 2000 | 8 | 58 |
| 2010 | 9.8 | 58 |
| 2020 | 9.8 | 58.2 |
| 2030 | 9.8 | 58.4 |
| 2040 | 9.8 | 58.6 |
| 2050 | 9.8 | 58.8 |
| 2060 | 9.8 | 59 |
| 2070 | 9.8 | 59.2 |
| 2080 | 9.8 | 59.4 |
| 2090 | 9.8 | 59.6 |
| 2100 | 9.8 | 59.8 |
| 2110 | 9.8 | 60 |
---
**Scenario Two: Carbon dioxide emissions decrease**
| Year | Carbon Emissions (gigatons) | Temperature (Fahrenheit) |
|------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 1960 | 4.2 | 57.2 |
| 1970 | 5.8 | 57 |
| 1980 | 6.2 | 57.4 |
| 1990 | 7.8 | 57.6 |
| 2000 | 8 | 58 |
| 2010 | 9.8 | 58 |
| 2020 | 9.6 | 57.8 |
| 2030 | 9.4 | 57.6 |
| 2040 | 9.2 | 57.4 |
| 2050 | 9.0 | 57.2 |
| 2060 | 8.8 | 57 |
| 2070 | 8.6 | 56.8 |
| 2080 | 8.4 | 56.6 |
| 2090 | 8.2 | 56.5 |
| 2100 | 8.0 | 56.4 |
| 2110 | 7.8 | 56.3 |
---
**Scenario Three: Carbon dioxide emissions increase**
| Year | Carbon Emissions (gigatons) | Temperature (Fahrenheit) |
|------|------------------------------|---------------------------|
| 1960 | 4.2 | 57.2 |
| 1970 | 5.8 | 57 |
| 1980 | 6.2 | 57.4 |
| 1990 | 7.8 | 57.6 |
| 2000 | 8 | 58 |
| 2010 | 9.8 | 58 |
| 2020 | 10.0 | 58.4 |
| 2030 | 10.2 | 58.8 |
| 2040 | 10.4 | 59.2 |
| 2050 | 10.6 | 59.6 |
| 2060 | 10.8 | 60 |
| 2070 | 11.0 | 60.4 |
| 2080 | 11.2 | 60.8 |
| 2090 | 11.4 | 61.2 |
| 2100 | 11.6 | 61.6 |
| 2110 | 11.8 | 62 |
---
**Conclusion**
1. **Summarize how the carbon emissions affected the atmospheric temperature in each of the three scenarios:**
- **Scenario One:** When carbon emissions were maintained at 9.8 gigatons, the global temperature gradually increased, reaching 60°F by 2110. This demonstrates a direct correlation between constant emissions and rising temperatures.
- **Scenario Two:** With a gradual decrease in carbon emissions (decreasing by 0.2 gigatons every 10 years), the global temperature decreased slightly over the century, reaching 56.3°F by 2110. This indicates that reducing emissions can mitigate temperature rise.
- **Scenario Three:** The increase in carbon emissions (increasing by 0.2 gigatons every 10 years) led to a significant temperature rise, reaching 62°F by 2110. This shows the clear consequences of continuous emission increase on global temperatures.
2. **Was your hypothesis supported by your results or not?**
Yes, my hypothesis was supported by the results. The data confirmed that increasing carbon dioxide emissions resulted in a higher global temperature, while decreasing emissions helped stabilize or reduce the temperature, aligning with the predicted outcomes.
3. **Explain the difference between the greenhouse effect and global warming:**
The greenhouse effect is a natural process where certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, keeping the planet warm enough to sustain life. Global warming refers specifically to the recent rise in Earth's average temperature due to human activities, particularly the increased concentration of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels.
4. **Based on your knowledge of how the greenhouse effect works, why does the level of carbon dioxide affect global temperature?**
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that absorbs and emits infrared radiation. An increase in carbon dioxide concentration enhances the greenhouse effect, trapping more heat in the atmosphere and leading to an increase in global temperatures. Higher carbon dioxide levels result in less heat escaping into space, causing the Earth's surface temperature to rise.
5. **Name three sources of atmospheric carbon dioxide:**
- Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) for energy production and transportation.
- Deforestation and land-use changes that reduce the number of trees available to absorb CO2.
- Industrial processes, including cement production and chemical manufacturing, which release significant amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.