9Ed

Carbon dioxide and global

temperatures

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9Ed Problems with materials

Carbon dioxide and global temperatures

§ Describe the general pattern shown in the graph.

§ The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
has increased.
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9Ed Problems with materials

Carbon dioxide and global temperatures

§ Why do you think the line goes up and down every year?
§ There are different amounts of carbon dioxide in different
seasons of the year.
© Pearson Education Ltd 2015. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free.
9Ed Problems with materials

Carbon dioxide and global temperatures

§ Describe the general pattern shown in the graph.

§ The mean global temperature dropped until 1968. It has
continued to rise since then.
© Pearson Education Ltd 2015. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free.
9Ed Problems with materials

Carbon dioxide and global temperatures

§ What is the approximate change in mean global

temperature from 1960 to 2000?
§ + 0.4°C
© Pearson Education Ltd 2015. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free.
9Ed Problems with materials

Carbon dioxide and global temperatures

§ Do you think these two graphs provide evidence that

carbon dioxide is causing the Earth’s temperature to rise?
© Pearson Education Ltd 2015. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free.
9Ed Problems with materials

Carbon dioxide and global temperatures

Possible evidence for a link Possible evidence against
between carbon dioxide and a link between carbon
global warming: dioxide and global warming:

As the concentration of The concentration of carbon

carbon dioxide increases, dioxide increases steadily but
the mean global the temperature fluctuates.
temperature increases.

© Pearson Education Ltd 2015. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free.
9Ed Problems with materials

Carbon dioxide and global temperatures

Other things to think about:
§ Other factors could cause the global temperature to rise
(for example the Earth has a natural cycle of rising and
falling temperatures).
§ The concentration of other gases may also be changing
but this is not shown by these graphs.

© Pearson Education Ltd 2015. Copying permitted for purchasing institution only. This material is not copyright free.