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We read and hear much these days about greenhouse gases causing global warming and weather extremes. The two primary greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide and methane. Of these two, carbon dioxide is the most abundant and the most important. In this practical application we will examine carbon dioxide levels (which you may write simply as CO2) throughout the geologic ages of the earth. You can find much information on the internet and in your textbook (Elements of Ecology (Pearson+) – 9TH 15 by: Smith, Thomas M.), in Chapter 2 pages 30-32, and Chapter 3 pages 48-49. Temperature increases and ocean acidification are two of the main concerns related to CO2 increases. For this application you will need to find a graph showing CO2 levels in the earth’s atmosphere over the geologic ages (i.e., Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cretaceous) and a graph showing CO2 levels since we have been taking measurements (about 1900 or thereabouts). You can find these graphs on the internet. Then you will also need to find information (maybe on the same graph) correlating the CO2 level with temperature and with ocean acidity (or pH). The first key question for us today is: Does increased CO2 correlate with increased temperature and ocean acidity? The second key question is, if it does, does it seem to correlate with human activity, i.e., did we cause it? Or are there larger global/cosmic cycles involved over which we have no control? The third question is: Is there any practical thing we can do to fix the problem? By practical I mean technologically and economically. You will prepare a mini-paper (1-3 pages) showing your graphs and or tables and discussing what you have found. You should submit your paper as a Word document with references. All graphs or photos or illustrations should be inserted into the Word document. This is a research project for you; you will need to find sources on the internet, in libraries, in your textbook, or anywhere you can.
