A Year in the Life of Earth's CO2

A Year in the Life of Earth's CO2

​

Energy for Life Phenomenon

In this lesson you will learn about the phenomenon for the Energy for Life unit by watching a NASA video of Earth and answering questions to check your understanding.

Phenomenon:

In this unit, we will write:

Carbon dioxide = CO₂

Oxygen = O₂

.

.

Carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the earth’s atmosphere fluctuate (change) throughout the year.

_

​O₂ is produced by plants

.

.

CO₂ is released by animals

​

Gas Exchange

Burning fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal) releases pollution such as:

.

.

CO₂ - Carbon dioxide

CO - Carbon monoxide

CH₄ - Methane

N₂O - Nitrous oxide

​Gas Pollution

The video you will watch shows the world oriented similarly to this map. When you watch the video, pay particular attention to what is happening in the atmosphere over the USA.

Earth's CO₂ levels

In the video, carbon dioxide (CO₂) will be made visible using the key in the top right. As color changes from yellow to red, and then purple, CO₂ levels are rising.

.

Red and purple are very high concentrations of CO₂. _

Earth's CO levels

The color gray is used in the scale for CO levels.

.

.

Carbon monoxide is a gas which, like CO₂, is released from burning of fossil fuels.

NASA - A Year in the Life of Earth's CO₂

As you watch the video, pay attention to the changing CO₂ levels. Remember that yellow is a high concentration of CO₂, red is even higher, and purple is highest of all.

Pay attention to the date in the lower left corner of the video. The video was produced in 2006, so, for example, the date shown in this screenshot is January 27, 2006.

Note: it is generally best to use science resources that are much more recent, less than 5 years old; or less than 3 years old is even better. Unfortunately, NASA's only update since then was not thorough.

Multiple Choice

A significant source of the greenhouse gas, CO_2, is human activity.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

By the end of March, concentrations of CO2 over the US, Europe, and Asia are

• high

• medium

• low

Multiple Choice

The reason that the colors are swirling, as CO₂ and other gasses move around the globe, is

• earth's magnetic field

• wind patterns

• ocean currents

Multiple Choice

In spring and summer, photosynthesis is done by

• burning fossil fuels

• plants

• humans

Multiple Choice

By August, concentrations of CO₂ over the US, Europe, and Asia have

• increased

• decreased

Multiple Choice

During our summer, there are high concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO) over

• Europe & Asia

• Africa & Australia

Multiple Choice

When does the concentration of CO₂ over the USA start to increase again?

• spring

• summer

• fall

Multiple Choice

The narrator says that, each year, concentrations of CO₂ in the atmosphere are

• higher

• lower

Multiple Choice

By December, purple is seen over the USA, indicating that CO₂ levels are

• high

• medium

• low

Phenomenon:

Carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the earth’s atmosphere fluctuate (change) throughout the year.