Description:
Carbon dioxide is increasing in Earth’s atmosphere as we burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. While technology is growing that can remove CO2 from the air, it is an engineering challenge. Students model the challenge of carbon capture and graph the historic rise in carbon dioxide as observed at Mauna Loa, Hawai’i.
SWBAT:
- Briefly explain some reasons for increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide
- Understand that carbon capture technology is difficult to develop in part because the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide is very low.
- Demonstrate that carbon dioxide has been rising in Earth’s atmosphere since at least the 1950s.
Skills:
- Create and/or interpret data via a line graph
- Communicate scientific information
