Climate Change Misconceptions

Atmospheric CO₂ measurements are collected across the world at many places. Let’s explore the CO₂ record from the past. In the video below, atmospheric CO₂ data is shown from current times and all the way back to 800,000 y (800 ky) BCE. The video also shows how the data was compiled.

Dr. Richard Alley – a prominent climate change researcher – explains how we collect CO₂ and temperature records from the ancient past.

Use the videos above and the resources below to answer the following questions:

• See Climate Levels Graph: A project of the 2 Degrees Institute to see the levels of CO₂ and how the data were collected.
• Also, see 15 Global Climate Change – An Introduction to Geology (opengeology.org)

41. CO₂ data was measured directly in the US since 1958. Where were these data collected?
42. These measurements show a cyclical annual variation in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations.  How is this explained?
43. What is the overall CO₂ trend from 1958?
44. Ancient CO₂ and temperature data were collected indirectly.  What are such data called?
45. List four sources of proxy data used in climate studies.
46. How have CO₂ levels behaved over the past 800 ky?
47. What is the highest CO₂ concentration before the industrial era?
48. What is the lowest CO₂ concentration before the industrial era?
49. List two major reasons attributed to the natural variation in CO₂ concentrations over the past 800 ky.
50. In the above link, when did CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O levels start to consistently rise?
51. Would it be reasonable to say that the rise in these GHG concentrations can be attributed to the industrial revolution?
52. When did the global temperature start to consistently rise?
53. When did the global mean sea levels start to consistently rise?
54. Is it reasonable to correlate the rise in GHG levels to a rise in global temperatures?
55. Calculate the rate of increase in CO₂ levels from 1850 to the present. (From the data in the first video, divide the difference in CO₂ concentrations in 1850 to the present by the number of years between 1850 to today.)
56. Repeat the CO₂ levels rate measurement from approximately 2000 y BCE to 15,000 (15 ky) BCE.
57. In which time period was the rate of CO₂ increase faster?
58. Is it reasonable to conclude that the modern rise in CO₂ concentrations can be attributed to human activity?

Use information at the following links to explore the links between solar activity and global temperatures.

• What Is the Sun’s Role in Climate Change? – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet (nasa.gov)
• Solar Irradiance section in Causes | Facts – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet (nasa.gov)

59. Examining the graph at the first link, what is the range of Total Solar Irradiance measured since 1880?
60. How has the measured solar activity behaved since the 1970s?
61. According to researchers, lower solar activity is associated with what kind of climate across the world?
62. How has the global surface temperature behaved since the 1970s?
63. Warming caused by the sun will warm all layers of the atmosphere uniformly. T/F
64. Warming caused by GHG will warm all layers of the atmosphere uniformly. T/F
65. Which layer of the atmosphere warms the most because of the warming caused by GHG? (Hint: the layer closest to the Earth’s surface).
66. Based on the information available, can the increase in global temperatures be associated with solar activity?

Let’s explore volcanic activity as related to climate change. Refer to the links below for answering the questions below:

• Volcanoes Can Affect Climate (usgs.gov)
• Climate Levels Graph: A project of the 2 Degrees Institute

67. What are the three main products released into the atmosphere during major volcanic eruptions?
68. What are the two main gases released during volcanic eruptions?
69. Of these two gases, one causes cooling of the Earth’s climate.
70. Of these two gases, one causes warming of the Earth’s climate.
71. Several major volcanic eruptions in the past few centuries have released a significant amount of SO₂ into the atmosphere. T/F
72. How much CO₂ do volcanoes emit on annual basis?
73. What % of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions are volcano emissions equivalent to?
74. Combustion of fossil fuels requires O₂.  How do recent atmospheric O₂ levels behave?
75. Can we associate the global increase in CO₂ and decrease O₂ decrease to the burning of fossil fuels?
76. Based on the information available the increase in global temperatures be associated with volcanic emissions?