NAME_______________________ Pd.

_________

Date_____________

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?
It is an important heat-trapping gas that is released through human activities such
as deforestation and the 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?
300
3) According to the charts, what is the level of CO2 today?
399.3 ppm
4) Based on the information on the page, why is this level of CO2 a problem?
Carbon dioxide levels in the air are the highest they have been in 650,000 years. It is
an important heat trapping greenhouse gas, and helps lead to the effects of global
warming.
5) According to the charts on Arctic Sea Ice, what has been the overall trend since 1980?
Its declining at a rate of 13.3 percent per decade.
6) What trend can be observed for land ice?
The land ice is losing mass.

7) What trend can be observed for sea level?

The sea level has risen.

8) What overall conclusion can you make based on the data of these three charts?
Everything has decreased.

Evidence
9) What are eight areas that scientists look at for evidence of global warming?
Sea level rising, global temperature rise, warming oceans, shrinking ice sheets,
declining arctic sea level, glacial retreat, extreme events, ocean acidification, and
decreased snow cover.

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

Effects
11) According to the effects page, what effect will climate change have on water
availability?
It will decrease the availability of water in oceans, and lakes.
12) What visible changes have already occurred due to climate change?
The overall temperature of the Earth has increased and has caused visible changes
in physical features on Earth. (i.e. melting ice)

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.
Solar energy
Hydro energy
Wind energy