Carbon Cycle + Greenhouse Effect

Pick the statement that best explains the annual changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide.

• The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration depends on plant growth and the rate of cellular respiration during different seasons.

• The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration varies due to combustion of fossil fuels during different seasons.

• The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration depends on plant growth and the rate of photosynthesis during different seasons.

• The atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration fluctuates randomly.

What does this graph show?

• Humans burn excessive fossil fuels.

• Atmospheric carbon dioxide has been rising exponentially since the Industrial Revolution.

• Global temperature has been rising exponentially in recent history.

Why has atmospheric carbon dioxide been rising in recent human history?

• Human activities move carbon out of the slow carbon cycle into the fast carbon cycle through fossil fuel combustion.

• Human activities move carbon out of the fast carbon cycle into the slow carbon cycle through fossil fuel combustion.

• Humans are implementing more renewable energy sources than relying on the combustion of fossil fuels.

Which image shows carbon moving from the slow carbon cycle to the fast carbon cycle?

• A

• B

• C

• D

How do greenhouse gases (like CO2) cause data like that seen in this graph?

• An increase in greenhouse gases due to combustion causes more heat to leave the atmosphere, causing the temperature to increase.

• An increase in greenhouse gases due to combustion causes more heat to stay trapped in the atmosphere, causing the temperature to increase.

• An increase in greenhouse gases due to combustion causes more heat to stay trapped in the atmosphere, causing the Earth's temperature to decrease.