Thursday, September 15, 2011

Analyzing Data on CO2

Today we will be using data from theMauna Loa Observatory on the Big Island of Hawaii to look at trends in CO2 levels.

Follow the directions below to complete the assignment:

Part 1:
1. Open a word document and title it "Analyzing CO2 Data"

2. Click here to access the Seattle Central Website, open this site in a new window or tab. Information about the data: Time is expressed in months, with May of 1974 as month 1 (zero was not used to avoid the usual problems with exponential and power law regression). The observatory is at 3,400 m or 11,000 feet above sea level.

3. Download the data in an Excel File.

4. Open the Excel File.

5. Create an x y scatter plot for the data. Not sure how to make an x y scatter plot? If you are a Mac user, click here. If you use a PC, you can still look at the slideshow, but some of the formatting in your program will be different.

6. Make sure to add a title and label each axis appropriately. Copy and paste this graph into your word document titled "Analyzing CO2 Data."

Part 2:

Answer the following discussion questions below the graph in your word document. Please answer using complete sentences.

A. You no longer need to do question A.

B.Suggest why average carbon dioxide levels increased each year represented in the graph?

C. Explain why the concentrations of CO2 show a yearly zig-zag pattern.

D. Suggest why the island of Hawaiʻi one of the more ideal locations for collecting atmospheric CO2 as a model of the concentration for the world?

E. Does the data collected at Mauna Loa tie in to scientists' recent predictions about climate change and global warming?

Part 3:
Find a current (within the last year) new article on the increase in CO2 levels.

Write the url and title for the article.

Provide a brief summary of the article.

Based on the news source, how much trust can you put into what is said? Explain your answer.

This assignment is due by the start of class on Friday.  You may either print out your answers and bring them to class or email me your answers.



No comments:

Post a Comment