NAME_______________________ Pd.

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Date_____________

Climate Change Web-Quest

Directions- Go to: climate.nasa.gov and using the information of the website,
answer the following questions. Write your answers in the space provided.

Key Indicators
1) What is carbon dioxide (CO2) and where does it usually come from?
carbon dioxide (CO2) is a colorless, odorless, faintly acidic-tasting, non-flammable
gas. CO2 is the fourth most abundant gas in the earth's atmosphere. CO2 is a
byproduct of normal cell function. It is removed from the body via the lungs in the
exhaled air. CO2 is also produced when fossil fuels are burned. Decaying
vegetation can also produce CO2. Surface soils can sometimes contain high
concentrations of this gas, from decaying vegetation or chemical changes in the
bedrock. In its solid form, CO2 is used in fire extinguishers, in laboratories, and in
theater and stage productions as dry ice to make fog. Its in the atmosphere.

2) According to the CO2 charts, what was the highest level of CO2 in the 400,000 years
prior to 1950?
265
3) According to the charts, what is the level of CO2 today?
399.0
4) Based on the information on the page, why is this level of CO2 a problem?
Its way higher than previous years.

5) According to the charts on Arctic Sea Ice, what has been the overall trend since 1980?
The amount of Arctic Sea Ice has been decreasing dramatically.
6) What trend can be observed for land ice?
Its decreased a lot.

7) What trend can be observed for sea level?

Its gone up 3.17 meters.

8) What overall conclusion can you make based on the data of these three charts?
There is more decreasing than there is increasing.

Evidence
9) What are eight areas that scientists look at for evidence of global warming?
Declining artic ice, glacial retreat, shrinking ice sheets, warming oceans, global
temperature rise, sea level rise, extreme events, ocean acidification

Causes
10) What are the five common gases that cause global warming?
Water vapor, c02, methane, nitrous oxide, cfcs

Effects
11) According to the effects page, what effect will climate change have on water
availability?
Less water availability
12) What visible changes have already occurred due to climate change?
Loss of the arctic ice

Consensus
13) What percentage of scientists agree that climate change is due to human activity?
97% of climate scientists

Innovations
14) Describe three innovations in energy that could help the world become independent
of fossil fuels.

U.S. Department of Energy

U.S. Department of Energy: Climate ChangeDescribes strategies currently

being pursued or considered to reduce carbon emissions and address
global climate change.

Environmental Protection Agency

Overview of steps the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is taking to

address the challenge of climate change.

State of California's Climate Change Portal

This site provides a large number of links to state reports on climate
change mitigation and adaptation options.

U.N. Framework on Climate Change