A Quick Review of the Carbon Cycle.1. Go to the The Carbon Cycle game to review the Carbon cycle. It can be found here:
https://www.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/carbon_cycle.html
2. Pay attention to different sinks (= places where Carbon is stored) & how Carbon moves into or out of
different places where it can be stored. Record your notes in the space below:
Interactive Carbon Lab Simulation
1. Go to the Annenberg Learner’s Interactive Carbon Lab. It can be found here:
https://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/interactives/carbon/
2. Click the “Open Simulator” link in the upper right hand corner of your window to open the simulation.
Simulation 1: Default settings (i.e., no changes to our current activities).
This simulation is based on a relatively simple model of how Carbon circulates through the atmosphere,
biosphere, oceans, & Earth’s crust. The first simulation you’ll run looks at how current, average rates of change
in our fossil fuel use (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas) & rates of deforestation affect levels of Carbon in the
atmosphere.
1. Before you start the simulation, examine the following:
• Simulation parameters.
Change in fossil fuel use per year. Set this to 2% for the Default setting. This means
that there is a 2% increase in how much fossil fuel we use each year.
Net deforestation rate per year. Set this to 1 GT (= gigaton of Carbon). This means that
we are releasing 1 GT of Carbon each year due to the removal of forests. This is a
conservative estimate of our current rates of deforestation.
• The Carbon sink graphic on the right shows you how much Carbon is stored in each sink &
how that changes as the simulation proceeds. These are the data you will record. Note that:
One gray rectangle represents 25 GT of Carbon.
If you’d like more detailed information on the simulation, check out the HELP link here:
https://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/interactives/carbon/carbon_help.php
• Atmospheric CO2 (ppm) graph in the lower left corner records the amount of carbon in ppm (=
parts per million) in the atmosphere.
The Goal Limit line (orange) indicates 550 ppm, which would limit the warming of
Earth to an average increase of 2˚C. This is the 1990s recommended limit from the
Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC).
The Simulated line (dark gray) indicates the amount of Carbon in the atmosphere based
on your simulation.
2. Collect data to complete Table 1 & recreate your atmospheric Carbon graph on the next page.
Record how much Carbon is present in each sink for each year listed in Table 1. Values for the
beginning of the simulation in 2010 have been included for you.
• Clicking “Run Decade” will move you forward in time by 10 years.
Simulation 2: A potential solution?
1. Your task as a group is to determine how we can avoid going over the goal of 550 ppm of Carbon
in the atmosphere. In your group, discuss what you think might be a potential, realistic solution. For
example, if you wanted fossil fuel consumption to be stable (i.e., at the same amount in 2010, but not
increasing or decreasing), & if you want to keep deforestation levels as they are in 2010, you would set
up your simulation up as follows:
• Change in fossil fuel use per year. 0 %.
Keep in mind: a negative rate means fossil fuel use is decreasing.
• Net deforestation rate per year. 1 GT.
Keep in mind: a negative deforestation rate means you are planting new forests.
2. Record the parameters your group decided to test below. Keep in mind that you can change the
parameters mid-simulation if you choose to do so (e.g., in year 2070, you could decrease the amount of
deforestation from 1 to 0 GT).
• Change in fossil fuel use per year. ________________________
• Net deforestation rate per year. __________________________
• Will you change any parameters mid-simulation? If so, what will you change & during what
year?
3. Click “Reset” to reset the simulation (this will not change your simulation parameters but it will
restart the simulation at year 2010).
4. Run your new simulation. Collect data to complete Table 2 & recreate your atmospheric Carbon
graph on the next page.
5. Answer the question(s) on the last pages of this worksheet.
.
Name: ___________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Simulation 1: Default settings.
Table 1. Data describing Carbon storage across different sinks from 2010 to 2110. Simulation
settings:
o Change in fossil fuel use per year: 2% increase. o
Net deforestation rate per year: 1 GT.
Year
Atmosphere
Ocean
Surface
Ocean
Deep
Terrestrial
Plants
Soil
Coal
Stores
Oil & Gas
stores
2010
720
1000
38000
700
1800 + 200
= 2000
3500
500
2040
2070
2100
Atmospheric CO2 graph (ppm) below. Using the graph below, draw the line of your simulated atmospheric
CO2 data. Recreate the line from the simulation from the years 1960 – 2110. The thick, orange line at
550 ppm represents the Goal Limit Line.
Question. Answer the following after considering the data above & your notes from the review activity.
1. Of the following, which stores the most Carbon? Write your choice here: __________
A. Land plants & terrestrial environments
B. Ocean environments
C. Earth’s Soil
*** IMPORTANT: Take a clear picture of this page & submit it to the appropriate assignment on D2L. ***
Simulation 2: A potential solution?
Table 2. Data describing Carbon storage across different sinks from 2010 to 2110.
Simulation settings:
o Change in fossil fuel use per year: _______________. o
Net deforestation rate per year: ____________________. o
Other notes on simulation settings:
Year
Atmosphere
Ocean
Surface
Ocean
Deep
Terrestrial
Plants
Soil
Coal
Stores
Oil & Gas
stores
2010
720
1000
38000
700
1800 + 200
= 2000
3500
500
2040
2070
2100
Atmospheric CO2 graph (ppm) below. Using the graph below, draw the line of your simulated atmospheric
CO2 data. Recreate the line from the simulation from the years 1960 – 2110. The thick, orange line at
550 ppm represents the Goal Limit Line.
Questions: In your group, discuss the results from Simulation 1 & Simulation 2. Then answer the following:
1. If we continue to increase our fossil fuel use by 2% each year, & we do not change rates of deforestation
(i.e., conditions in Simulation 1), by what year will we surpass the Goal Limit? ___________________
2. Did your group’s solution keep atmospheric carbon below 550 ppm by 2100? Are atmospheric carbon
levels still less than 550 ppm if you run the simulation to year 2200? What surprised you about the results
of your simulations?
*** IMPORTANT: Take a clear picture of this page & submit it to the appropriate assignment on D2L. ***
Question 1 (2 points)
There is no scientific consensus (i.e., no broad, widespread agreement) regarding the
impact that humans have on Earth’s climate.
True
FalseQuestion 2 (2 points)
Which of the following are ways in which Carbon enters and can be stored in the
ocean? (You may select more than one if more than one applies)
Carbon can diffuse into the ocean from the atmosphere (i.e., from the air).
Carbon can diffuse into the ocean as marine life decomposes and breaks down.
Carbon can be absorbed by marine life like phytoplankton (e.g., diatoms, algae, &
other organisms) via the process of photosynthesis.Question 3 (2 points)
Which of the graphs here best fits the relationship between deforestation and levels
of carbon
dioxide in the atmosphere?
Atmospheric CO₂
High
Low
Less
Deforestation
A
More
Atmospheric CO₂
High
Low
Less
Deforestation
B
More
Atmospheric CO₂
High
Low
Less
Deforestation
C
MoreQuestion 4 (2 points)
is the process by which terrestrial plants, algae, and diatoms use
energy from the sun to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and then incorporate it
into their bodies/cells.
A/Question 5 (2 points)
The ocean’s surface is a larger Carbon sink (i.e., stores more Carbon) than deeper
ocean habitats because photosynthesis is only possible in shallow waters.
True
False
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