Enviroment science lab3 - Essay Example

Sources of CO2 Emissions al Affiliation Would you Expect to see an Increase or Decrease in CO2 Emission in the Data over the Past 40 Years? Why? PurposeTo assess the contributor to temperature balance more the impact of carbon dioxide. Introduction Global temperature is influenced by solar energy, which is also the key energy source that move major process like photosynthesis and hydrological cycle. The solar energy is distributed in portions and only 51% of it reaches the earth surface.

The clouds reflect the 49% by 20%, atmospheric gases like Sulphur dioxide by 6%, and 19% is absorbed the two factors too. This process is called albedo effect. This albedo plays role of lowering the temperature. On the other hand, the portion that hit the earth surface is absorbed by the ocean and greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, CH4 and H2O), which cause an increase in global temperature. According to Budyko (1982), anthropogenic activities of man more so industrialization and agriculture are the key contributor to the greenhouse gases.

Hypothesis/Predicted OutcomesThe carbon dioxide will be lower in the past forty years MethodsOn the Web site link given in the assignment description, I saw an interactive map of the world titled “GMD Measurement Locations”1. I clicked on a starred location. (One site will not have CO2 concentrations.)2. Once the starred location opens, on the right side of the screen, I clicked on the picture graph “Examples of Data” for CO2.3. Once the graph opens, I made a note of the CO2 concentrations from previous years to present day and Filled in the table below.

I then repeated steps 1–3 for all other locations.Lastly, I analyzed the graphs and recorded the amount of carbon dioxide for the year 1990 and 2005.Results/OutcomeLocation CodeName of City/CountryCO2 Emissions in 1990CO2 Emissions in 2005SUMSummit Greenland350 mol-1378 mol-1BRWBarrow, Alaska, United State353 mol-1380 mol-1THDTrinidad Head Observatory--MLOMauna Loa Observatory351 mol-1372 mol-1SMOAmerican Samoa Observatory354 mol-1377 mol-1Discussion/Analysis The data clearly indicates that, between 1990 and 2005, there has been an increase in the CO2 by more than 20 mol-1 in the five regions.

Anthropogenic activities in the regions of studies in regard to the production of greenhouse gases, which are deforestation to create space for industrial development and agriculture and combustion of fossil fuels, have been on the rise. With this being the trend, is clear that in the last forty year, CO2 emission was lower. This is because industrialization was low and the population that needed to be fed from agriculture was low too. Therefore, deforestation and green gas emission was low making my hypothesis is right (Budyko, 1982).

ReferencesBudyko, M. I. (1982). The Earths climate, past and future. New York: Academic Press.Earth System Research Laboratory: Global Monitoring Division. (n.d.). Retrieved from U.S Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Research web site: http: //www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/obop//