reseach assignment

Question

Research Questions

Write down three to five questions to help guide your research on global warming.

Answer:

Use these websites for your research:

EPA, Climate Change - Greenhouse Gas Emissions

https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/greenhouse-gases

U.S. EPA - EPA Kid's Global Climate Change

https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climatechange_.html

Nova Online, Greenhouse - Green Planet

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ice/greenhouse.html

What Triggers Ice Ages?

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/earth/cause-ice-age.html

Research Bibliography

Keep track of where you find your information for your concept map.

Keyword or Phrase	Fact	Opinion	Website/Menu Item

Concept Map

Draw a concept map that reflects your research. Don’t forget to use colors. If you create an e-concept map, don’t forget to include it with this assignment worksheet.

Questions

1.     Describe at least two things people can do today to help protect Earth and reduce levels of CO₂.

Answer:

·       Two ways that man can reduce the global warming is by reducing carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) emissions. One way is by planting more trees. Forests are reservoirs for carbon since their remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the process of photosynthesis. Second is by reducing the use of fossil fuels to produce energy. Fossil fuels are the biggest emitter of carbon dioxide in their combustion

2.     Briefly explain how greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide in particular, can absorb and radiate heat inside Earth’s atmosphere and thereby contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Answer:

·       Greenhouse gases permit infrared rays from the sun to pass through them but do not allow heat to escape into the atmosphere. When infrared hits the earth's surface it turns to the heat wave that has much longer wavelengths. This causes the earth’s atmosphere to retain more heat hence increased global temperatures.

3.     Read "What Triggers Ice Ages?" Briefly describe what you think the world would be like if the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere were reduced to levels like those during the ice age.

Answer:

·       When greenhouse gases especially carbon dioxide are reduced in the atmosphere, the earth is able to radiate more sunlight back into space due to the reduced greenhouse effect. This enables the global temperatures to remain low. At the poles where temperatures are cold remains even colder hence the waters in these regions turn to glaciers. The ice continents increase in size and hence a big characteristic of ice ages.

Form an Opinion

Do you believe humans are responsible for global warming or do you believe this is part of a natural cycle of earth, like periodic ice ages? Use your research to support your opinion.

·       Humans are not responsible for global warming even though they contribute but in minimal proportions as compared to the natural process. This is because it is estimated that termites produce even more carbon dioxide than humans. Ice ages and global warming are therefore natural cycles governed by the sun. However, human activity aggravates global warming.

Presentation: “What is my carbon footprint and how can I reduce it?”

No matter what your opinion regarding global warming, it is a good idea to conserve natural resources. Reducing the carbon footprint you make is one way to practice conservation. Visit this website for some ideas and to “calculate” your carbon footprint.

The Nature Conservancy (CAUTION: DO NOT CLICK ON ANY BUTTONS TO DONATE)

https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/consider-your-impact/carbon-calculator/

Then create a presentation that includes this information:

·       your calculated carbon footprint

·       three ways you can conserve resources and reduce your footprint

·       two suggestions you can make to family members to reduce their carbon footprints

·       one suggestion you can make to your school to help reduce its carbon footprint

 If we decrease our carbon footprint we can slow d. If we increase our carbon footprint we can stop

down the process of global warming. Global warming from ever happening. Global Warming is inevitable, so we can't just stop it, so decreasing our carbon footprint only slows it.

Answer 1

Here are some possible questions to get you started on your research project:

How do we know global warming is happening?

What is the source of global warming?

What do we mean by the greenhouse effect?

What are the effects of global warming?