Question
When and why did coal become popular?
2. What made big factories possible? (Look in the “Industrial Revolution” column.)
Click the “Next” button on the bottom of the page to be taken to “The Story of Fossil Fuels, Part 2: Oil”.
3. What invention made the use of petroleum more popular?
4. What is petroleum?
5. What type of petroleum is used in cars?
Click the “Next” button on the bottom of the page to be taken to “The Story of Fossil Fuels, Part 3: Gas”.
6. What is natural gas used for today?
7. What is hydraulic fracturing?
8. Go back and look at the focus question (above) for this section. Answer it using evidence from the website.
Section Two Focus Question: How have greenhouse gases been affected by human activity?
Answer these questions using this website:
Read the “Today’s Climate Change” section.
9. What did people start doing over 100 years ago that has led to climate change?
10. What gas does the burning fossil fuels release into the atmosphere?
11. What are greenhouse gases? Do they exist naturally?
Click on the “The Greenhouse Effect” link at the bottom. Read the text. (Do not click on the video.)
12. What is the greenhouse effect?
Click on the link “Learn where the term “greenhouse effect” comes from” towards the bottom of the page.
13. Why is a greenhouse a good analogy for what's happening in the atmosphere?
Click on the oval “Greenhouse Gases” link towards the top right. Read the text.
Click on each part of the “Major Greenhouses Gases from People’s Activities” chart.
14. Where does carbon dioxide come from? How long does it stay around? (Click the section to see.)
15. Where does methane come from? How long does it stay in the atmosphere? (Click the section to see.)
Examine the “Source of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions” pie chart.
16. What are the top 3 sources of greenhouse gases? List the percent each contributes.
Click the oval “All About Carbon Dioxide” link towards the top right. Read the text. (Do not click the video.)
17. Where is carbon found on Earth? What cycle moves carbon from one part of the Earth to another?
18. How is burning fossil fuels affecting the carbon cycle?
Click the “Think Like a Scientist” tab at the top. Then, click the link at the bottom of that page that says “Learn about greenhouse gases in the atmosphere”.
19. How do scientists measure the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
20. Examine the “Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere” graph. Describe recent carbon dioxide levels.
21. Go back and look at the focus question (above) for this section. Answer it using evidence from the website.
Section Three Focus Question: How do we know the climate is changing?
Answer the questions below by going back to the website:
Click on the “Big Questions” tab. Then, click on the box that says “What is climate change?”.
22. What is happening to the temperature of planet Earth?
Click on the “Big Questions” tab again. Click on the box that says “How do we know the climate is changing?”.
23. How do scientists use ice cores to study carbon dioxide levels?
24. Watch the Arctic Ice animation on this page. What has been different about Arctic ice since 1979?
25. How does the sea level tell us that the climate is getting warmer?
Navigate back to the website from earlier:
Click the “Think Like a Scientist” tab at the top. Then, click the link at the bottom of that page that says “Examine the clues of climate change”.
26. Use the magnifying glass to find 11 signs of climate change. Write each one in the space below.
Click the “Think Like a Scientist” tab again. Then, click the link at the bottom of that page that says “Find out how we know that today's climate change is caused by people putting greenhouse gases in the atmosphere”.
27. Click on each factor that could affect the Earth’s climate. Complete the grid below.
Factor
Is this a cause of climate change? Provide a quick explanation for your answer.
The Sun
Earth’s Orbit
Volcanoes
28. Go back and look at the focus question for this section. Answer it using evidence from the websites.
Section Four Focus Question: What are the effects of climate change?
Click the “See the Impacts” tab at the top. Then, click the link at the bottom of that page that says “Find out how these changes will affect people and the environment”. Click on the different parts of the picture.
29. Complete the grid with information from each potential effect of climate change.
What’s at stake?
What can people do about it?
Health
Agriculture
Energy
Water Supplies
Plants, Animals & Ecosystems
Forests
Coastal Areas
Recreation
2. What made big factories possible? (Look in the “Industrial Revolution” column.)
Click the “Next” button on the bottom of the page to be taken to “The Story of Fossil Fuels, Part 2: Oil”.
3. What invention made the use of petroleum more popular?
4. What is petroleum?
5. What type of petroleum is used in cars?
Click the “Next” button on the bottom of the page to be taken to “The Story of Fossil Fuels, Part 3: Gas”.
6. What is natural gas used for today?
7. What is hydraulic fracturing?
8. Go back and look at the focus question (above) for this section. Answer it using evidence from the website.
Section Two Focus Question: How have greenhouse gases been affected by human activity?
Answer these questions using this website:
Read the “Today’s Climate Change” section.
9. What did people start doing over 100 years ago that has led to climate change?
10. What gas does the burning fossil fuels release into the atmosphere?
11. What are greenhouse gases? Do they exist naturally?
Click on the “The Greenhouse Effect” link at the bottom. Read the text. (Do not click on the video.)
12. What is the greenhouse effect?
Click on the link “Learn where the term “greenhouse effect” comes from” towards the bottom of the page.
13. Why is a greenhouse a good analogy for what's happening in the atmosphere?
Click on the oval “Greenhouse Gases” link towards the top right. Read the text.
Click on each part of the “Major Greenhouses Gases from People’s Activities” chart.
14. Where does carbon dioxide come from? How long does it stay around? (Click the section to see.)
15. Where does methane come from? How long does it stay in the atmosphere? (Click the section to see.)
Examine the “Source of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions” pie chart.
16. What are the top 3 sources of greenhouse gases? List the percent each contributes.
Click the oval “All About Carbon Dioxide” link towards the top right. Read the text. (Do not click the video.)
17. Where is carbon found on Earth? What cycle moves carbon from one part of the Earth to another?
18. How is burning fossil fuels affecting the carbon cycle?
Click the “Think Like a Scientist” tab at the top. Then, click the link at the bottom of that page that says “Learn about greenhouse gases in the atmosphere”.
19. How do scientists measure the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
20. Examine the “Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere” graph. Describe recent carbon dioxide levels.
21. Go back and look at the focus question (above) for this section. Answer it using evidence from the website.
Section Three Focus Question: How do we know the climate is changing?
Answer the questions below by going back to the website:
Click on the “Big Questions” tab. Then, click on the box that says “What is climate change?”.
22. What is happening to the temperature of planet Earth?
Click on the “Big Questions” tab again. Click on the box that says “How do we know the climate is changing?”.
23. How do scientists use ice cores to study carbon dioxide levels?
24. Watch the Arctic Ice animation on this page. What has been different about Arctic ice since 1979?
25. How does the sea level tell us that the climate is getting warmer?
Navigate back to the website from earlier:
Click the “Think Like a Scientist” tab at the top. Then, click the link at the bottom of that page that says “Examine the clues of climate change”.
26. Use the magnifying glass to find 11 signs of climate change. Write each one in the space below.
Click the “Think Like a Scientist” tab again. Then, click the link at the bottom of that page that says “Find out how we know that today's climate change is caused by people putting greenhouse gases in the atmosphere”.
27. Click on each factor that could affect the Earth’s climate. Complete the grid below.
Factor
Is this a cause of climate change? Provide a quick explanation for your answer.
The Sun
Earth’s Orbit
Volcanoes
28. Go back and look at the focus question for this section. Answer it using evidence from the websites.
Section Four Focus Question: What are the effects of climate change?
Click the “See the Impacts” tab at the top. Then, click the link at the bottom of that page that says “Find out how these changes will affect people and the environment”. Click on the different parts of the picture.
29. Complete the grid with information from each potential effect of climate change.
What’s at stake?
What can people do about it?
Health
Agriculture
Energy
Water Supplies
Plants, Animals & Ecosystems
Forests
Coastal Areas
Recreation
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here are the answers to your questions based on what is typically known about the topics involved:
1. **When and why did coal become popular?**
- Coal became particularly popular during the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Its popularity surged due to its ability to produce large amounts of energy, facilitating steam power and, later, electricity generation. It was abundant and relatively cheap to extract and transport.
2. **What made big factories possible?**
- The development of steam power, along with advancements in machinery, transportation (such as railroads), and the creation of a factory system allowed for the concentration of labor and production, enabling bigger factories to operate efficiently.
3. **What invention made the use of petroleum more popular?**
- The invention of the internal combustion engine significantly increased the use and popularity of petroleum, particularly in automobiles and machinery.
4. **What is petroleum?**
- Petroleum, also known as crude oil, is a naturally occurring liquid found beneath the Earth's surface. It is composed of hydrocarbons and is used as fuel and as a raw material for various chemicals.
5. **What type of petroleum is used in cars?**
- Gasoline, which is refined from crude oil, is the type of petroleum used in most cars.
6. **What is natural gas used for today?**
- Natural gas is used for heating, cooking, power generation, and as a fuel for vehicles, as well as in the production of chemicals and fertilizers.
7. **What is hydraulic fracturing?**
- Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a technique used to extract natural gas and oil from underground rock formations by injecting high-pressure fluid to create fractures in the rock.
8. **Section Two Focus Question: How have greenhouse gases been affected by human activity?**
- Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, land use changes, and deforestation, have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to climate change.
9. **What did people start doing over 100 years ago that has led to climate change?**
- Over 100 years ago, people began extensively burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy, which has led to increased carbon emissions and climate change.
10. **What gas does the burning fossil fuels release into the atmosphere?**
- The burning of fossil fuels primarily releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.
11. **What are greenhouse gases? Do they exist naturally?**
- Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat. They exist naturally as part of the carbon cycle, including gases like CO2, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).
12. **What is the greenhouse effect?**
- The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space and thereby warming the planet.
13. **Why is a greenhouse a good analogy for what's happening in the atmosphere?**
- A greenhouse is a good analogy because it allows sunlight to enter while trapping heat inside, similar to how greenhouse gases absorb and emit infrared radiation, warming the Earth's atmosphere.
14. **Where does carbon dioxide come from? How long does it stay around?**
- Carbon dioxide comes from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and other human activities. It can remain in the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands of years.
15. **Where does methane come from? How long does it stay in the atmosphere?**
- Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as from livestock and other agricultural practices. It typically stays in the atmosphere for about a decade before breaking down.
16. **What are the top 3 sources of greenhouse gases? List the percent each contributes.**
- The top three sources often include:
- **Electricity and Heat Production:** ~25%
- **Transportation:** ~14%
- **Industry:** ~21% (Percentages can vary based on specific data.)
17. **Where is carbon found on Earth? What cycle moves carbon from one part of the Earth to another?**
- Carbon is found in the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. The carbon cycle is the process that moves carbon among these reservoirs.
18. **How is burning fossil fuels affecting the carbon cycle?**
- Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing atmospheric CO2 levels and disrupting the natural balance of the carbon cycle.
19. **How do scientists measure the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?**
- Scientists use various methods, including satellite observations, ground-based monitoring stations, and air sample analysis to measure greenhouse gas concentrations.
20. **Describe recent carbon dioxide levels.**
- Recent levels of carbon dioxide have shown a significant upward trend, reaching concentrations above 400 parts per million, indicating accelerated emissions and climate change.
21. **Section Two Focus Question: How have greenhouse gases been affected by human activity?**
- Evidence shows that human activities have led to dramatic increases in greenhouse gas concentrations, especially CO2 and methane, which are driving climate change.
22. **What is happening to the temperature of planet Earth?**
- The Earth's average temperature is increasing, leading to global warming and climate change.
23. **How do scientists use ice cores to study carbon dioxide levels?**
- Scientists extract ice cores from glaciers to analyze trapped air bubbles, giving them historical data on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels over the past thousands of years.
24. **What has been different about Arctic ice since 1979?**
- Since 1979, Arctic ice has significantly decreased in extent and thickness, indicating warming temperatures and climate change.
25. **How does sea level tell us that the climate is getting warmer?**
- Rising sea levels, caused by melting ice caps and glaciers as well as thermal expansion of seawater, provide evidence that global temperatures are increasing.
26. **11 signs of climate change:**
- (You would need to identify these from your own exploration of the website and its interactive elements).
27. **Factor: Is this a cause of climate change?**
- **The Sun:** No, changes in solar output are not a significant factor compared to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
- **Earth’s Orbit:** No, while variations can influence climate over long periods, they are not the current primary cause.
- **Volcanoes:** No, volcanic eruptions can release gases, but they are generally short-term and not a long-term driver.
28. **Section Focus Question: What are the effects of climate change?**
- Evidence from the website would indicate that climate change is causing extreme weather events, sea-level rise, habitat destruction, and other significant environmental and societal impacts.
29. **Potential effects of climate change:**
- **Health**: Increased heat-related illnesses and spread of diseases.
- **Agriculture**: Changes in crop yields and food security challenges.
- **Energy**: Changes in energy consumption patterns and increased demand for cooling.
- **Water Supplies**: Altered precipitation patterns leading to water scarcity.
- **Plants, Animals & Ecosystems**: Loss of biodiversity and habitat degradation.
- **Forests**: Increased risk of wildfires and changes in forest composition.
- **Coastal Areas**: Increased flooding and erosion.
- **Recreation**: Loss of recreational areas and changes in outdoor activities.
For the specific data points (like percentages and exact figures), please check the latest resources you have access to or the materials you were using for this assignment.
1. **When and why did coal become popular?**
- Coal became particularly popular during the Industrial Revolution in the late 18th and 19th centuries. Its popularity surged due to its ability to produce large amounts of energy, facilitating steam power and, later, electricity generation. It was abundant and relatively cheap to extract and transport.
2. **What made big factories possible?**
- The development of steam power, along with advancements in machinery, transportation (such as railroads), and the creation of a factory system allowed for the concentration of labor and production, enabling bigger factories to operate efficiently.
3. **What invention made the use of petroleum more popular?**
- The invention of the internal combustion engine significantly increased the use and popularity of petroleum, particularly in automobiles and machinery.
4. **What is petroleum?**
- Petroleum, also known as crude oil, is a naturally occurring liquid found beneath the Earth's surface. It is composed of hydrocarbons and is used as fuel and as a raw material for various chemicals.
5. **What type of petroleum is used in cars?**
- Gasoline, which is refined from crude oil, is the type of petroleum used in most cars.
6. **What is natural gas used for today?**
- Natural gas is used for heating, cooking, power generation, and as a fuel for vehicles, as well as in the production of chemicals and fertilizers.
7. **What is hydraulic fracturing?**
- Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a technique used to extract natural gas and oil from underground rock formations by injecting high-pressure fluid to create fractures in the rock.
8. **Section Two Focus Question: How have greenhouse gases been affected by human activity?**
- Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, land use changes, and deforestation, have significantly increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to climate change.
9. **What did people start doing over 100 years ago that has led to climate change?**
- Over 100 years ago, people began extensively burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) for energy, which has led to increased carbon emissions and climate change.
10. **What gas does the burning fossil fuels release into the atmosphere?**
- The burning of fossil fuels primarily releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.
11. **What are greenhouse gases? Do they exist naturally?**
- Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earth's atmosphere that trap heat. They exist naturally as part of the carbon cycle, including gases like CO2, methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).
12. **What is the greenhouse effect?**
- The greenhouse effect is the process by which certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat, preventing it from escaping into space and thereby warming the planet.
13. **Why is a greenhouse a good analogy for what's happening in the atmosphere?**
- A greenhouse is a good analogy because it allows sunlight to enter while trapping heat inside, similar to how greenhouse gases absorb and emit infrared radiation, warming the Earth's atmosphere.
14. **Where does carbon dioxide come from? How long does it stay around?**
- Carbon dioxide comes from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and other human activities. It can remain in the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands of years.
15. **Where does methane come from? How long does it stay in the atmosphere?**
- Methane is emitted during the production and transport of coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as from livestock and other agricultural practices. It typically stays in the atmosphere for about a decade before breaking down.
16. **What are the top 3 sources of greenhouse gases? List the percent each contributes.**
- The top three sources often include:
- **Electricity and Heat Production:** ~25%
- **Transportation:** ~14%
- **Industry:** ~21% (Percentages can vary based on specific data.)
17. **Where is carbon found on Earth? What cycle moves carbon from one part of the Earth to another?**
- Carbon is found in the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms. The carbon cycle is the process that moves carbon among these reservoirs.
18. **How is burning fossil fuels affecting the carbon cycle?**
- Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, increasing atmospheric CO2 levels and disrupting the natural balance of the carbon cycle.
19. **How do scientists measure the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?**
- Scientists use various methods, including satellite observations, ground-based monitoring stations, and air sample analysis to measure greenhouse gas concentrations.
20. **Describe recent carbon dioxide levels.**
- Recent levels of carbon dioxide have shown a significant upward trend, reaching concentrations above 400 parts per million, indicating accelerated emissions and climate change.
21. **Section Two Focus Question: How have greenhouse gases been affected by human activity?**
- Evidence shows that human activities have led to dramatic increases in greenhouse gas concentrations, especially CO2 and methane, which are driving climate change.
22. **What is happening to the temperature of planet Earth?**
- The Earth's average temperature is increasing, leading to global warming and climate change.
23. **How do scientists use ice cores to study carbon dioxide levels?**
- Scientists extract ice cores from glaciers to analyze trapped air bubbles, giving them historical data on atmospheric carbon dioxide levels over the past thousands of years.
24. **What has been different about Arctic ice since 1979?**
- Since 1979, Arctic ice has significantly decreased in extent and thickness, indicating warming temperatures and climate change.
25. **How does sea level tell us that the climate is getting warmer?**
- Rising sea levels, caused by melting ice caps and glaciers as well as thermal expansion of seawater, provide evidence that global temperatures are increasing.
26. **11 signs of climate change:**
- (You would need to identify these from your own exploration of the website and its interactive elements).
27. **Factor: Is this a cause of climate change?**
- **The Sun:** No, changes in solar output are not a significant factor compared to human-induced greenhouse gas emissions.
- **Earth’s Orbit:** No, while variations can influence climate over long periods, they are not the current primary cause.
- **Volcanoes:** No, volcanic eruptions can release gases, but they are generally short-term and not a long-term driver.
28. **Section Focus Question: What are the effects of climate change?**
- Evidence from the website would indicate that climate change is causing extreme weather events, sea-level rise, habitat destruction, and other significant environmental and societal impacts.
29. **Potential effects of climate change:**
- **Health**: Increased heat-related illnesses and spread of diseases.
- **Agriculture**: Changes in crop yields and food security challenges.
- **Energy**: Changes in energy consumption patterns and increased demand for cooling.
- **Water Supplies**: Altered precipitation patterns leading to water scarcity.
- **Plants, Animals & Ecosystems**: Loss of biodiversity and habitat degradation.
- **Forests**: Increased risk of wildfires and changes in forest composition.
- **Coastal Areas**: Increased flooding and erosion.
- **Recreation**: Loss of recreational areas and changes in outdoor activities.
For the specific data points (like percentages and exact figures), please check the latest resources you have access to or the materials you were using for this assignment.