EA_Monitoring CO2 in Your Neighborhood

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School

Virginia Wesleyan College *

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Course

111

Subject

Geography

Date

Oct 30, 2023

Type

docx

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Uploaded by BrigadierTitaniumFinch35

Environmental Analysis CO2 Monitoring in Your Neighborhood With scientists now convinced that rising atmospheric C02 levels are largely responsible for the post-1900 increase in average global temperature, and with the potential for dire consequences, widespread monitoring of CO2 concentrations is critical. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration measures greenhouse gas concentrations in air samples taken continually by a network of more than 100 sites worldwide at various elevations. Activities Go to the Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network at www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/ggrn/php 1. Describe the distribution of air sampling sites and the measurement methods used. Around the world there appear to be 172 sampling sites (85 active) distributed in no obvious pattern across the globe except that the the highest concentration is in North America. The methods listed for gathering data are Surface Flasks, Airborne Flasks, In Situ Tall Towers, In Situ Observatories, and Surface In Situ. Click on “View map and listing of reference network sites.” Using the map, select the site nearest to you that is not discontinued (yellow). 2. What is the site’s elevation in meters above sea level (masl)? 13.00 3. What sampling methods are used at the site? Remote sensing “Data Visualization” allows you to plot the data from your site. Select “carbon cycle gases” and plot a time series. Using default settings, opt for a time series plot to graph values of the “carbon cycle gas” carbon dioxide (CO2) for all available data (be sure to hit “submit). If no plot is generated, choose a different data type of measurement site. 4. What is plotted time span? 2008-2022 5. What is the range of variation of CO2 (shown by the circle symbols)? 320-415 6. Describe the data – how does CO2 vary over time? rising 7. Is a seasonal cycle visible in the multiyear graph? Explain. Yes. The amount of co2 zig-zags up-and-down regularly with the change of seasons, but each year the level begin and end higher than in the past. In a second browser window, select a second active measurement site in a distant location. 8. Repeat Activities 2 through 7, and describe any significant differences in the graphs you obtained for the two locations. Crozet Island 2. 197 masl