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?
Greenhouse gas that traps in heat and is released naturally, volcanic eruption and by
human activities, burning of fossil fuels
2) According to the CO2 charts, what was the highest level of CO2 in the 400,000 years
prior to 1950?
Barely anything
3) According to the charts, what is the level of CO2 today?
Very close to 400, about 399.30
4) Based on the information on the page, why is this level of CO2 a problem?
It causes for drastic climate changes
5) According to the charts on Arctic Sea Ice, what has been the overall trend since 1980?
Its slowly been decreasing and increasing
6) What trend can be observed for land ice?
Before the year 2008, it was decreases and then as soon as it hit beyond the 2008 mark,
the numbers decreased drastically
7) What trend can be observed for sea level?
Its increased 7 over the past 100 years
8) What overall conclusion can you make based on the data of these three charts?
Over the years the Earth has drastically changed in so many way

Evidence
9) What are eight areas that scientists look at for evidence of global warming?
Sea level rise
Global temperature rise
Warming Ocean
Shrinking Ice Sheets
Decline in Artic Sea Ice
Glacial Retreat
Extreme Events
Ocean Acidification
Decreased Snow Cover

Causes
10) What are the five common gases that cause global warming?
Water Vapor
Carbon Dioxide
Methane
Nitrous Oxide

CFCs

Effects
11) According to the effects page, what effect will climate change have on water
availability?
Less and less of it will be existent, glaciers will sink and rivers and lakes separate early
12) What visible changes have already occurred due to climate change?
Loss of sea ice, increasing sea level, along with longer and more intense heat waves

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

Innovations
14) Describe three innovations in energy that could help the world become independent
of fossil fuels.
Artificial photosynthesis to make plants greener
Generate electricity
Solar power electricity