What does the Keeling Curve tell us?
The Keeling Curve is a graph that shows the ongoing change in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere.
What is the Keeling Curve and why is it significant?
The Keeling Curve is one of the most compelling pieces of scientific evidence that shows that carbon dioxide (CO2) is accumulating in our atmosphere. CO2 is a greenhouse gas. Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere and help keep the planet warm.
How did Keeling make meaning of his decades of climate data from Hawaii?
In 1958, Keeling began measuring atmospheric CO2 concentrations from Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory. Using rigorous analytical procedures, he revealed new information about natural and man-caused carbon trends.
Why does the Keeling Curve zig zag?
The zigzag on the curve represents the seasonal change in levels of CO2. Levels rise in the fall and winter when plants and leaves die off releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, causing a spike in the measurements, and levels fall during the spring and summer when plants draw CO2 from the atmosphere.
Who made Keeling Curve?
Charles David Keeling
The Keeling Curve is a measurement of the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere made atop Hawaii’s Mauna Loa since 1958. It is the longest-running such measurement in the world. The Scripps CO2 program was initiated in 1956 by Charles David Keeling and operated under his direction until his death in 2005.
What is CO2 ppm today?
411.59 ppm Units = parts per million (ppm).
What are two possible consequences of a rise in global temperature?
The potential future effects of global climate change include more frequent wildfires, longer periods of drought in some regions and an increase in the number, duration and intensity of tropical storms.
Which greenhouse gas has the greatest effect?
Major greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and various synthetic chemicals. Carbon dioxide is widely reported as the most important anthropogenic greenhouse gas because it currently accounts for the greatest portion of the warming associated with human activities.
What causes the shape of the annual cycle of CO2?
The amount of CO2 found in the atmosphere varies over the course of a year. Much of this variation happens because of the role of plants in the carbon cycle. Respiration occurs all the time, but dominates during the colder months of the year, resulting in higher CO2 levels in the atmosphere during those months.
Is 400 ppm a lot?
In the big picture, 400 ppm is a low-to-middling concentration of CO2 for the planet Earth. Some 500 million years ago, when the number of living things in the oceans exploded and creatures first stepped on land, the ancient atmosphere happened to be rich with about 7,000 ppm of carbon dioxide.
What is the normal CO2 level?
The normal range is 23 to 29 milliequivalents per liter (mEq/L) or 23 to 29 millimoles per liter (mmol/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results.