Initial Publication Date: July 22, 2016

Step 3: Conduct Investigations and Analyze Data

In this phase of the lesson, students conduct their own investigation of CO₂ sources, sinks, and pathways.
Time required: 4 class periods

Elements of 3D Learning

Science and Engineering Practices

2a. Developing models
3a. Planning investigations
4. Analyzing and interpreting data
6. Constructing explanations

Cross-cutting Concepts

1. Patterns
4. Systems and systems models
5. Energy and matter: Flows, cycles, and conservation
7. Stability and Change

Disciplinary Core Ideas

HS LS2-5 Develop a model to illustrate the role of photosynthesis and cellular respiration in the cycling of carbon among the biosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and geosphere.
HS.ESS3.D3 Changes in the atmosphere due to human activity have increased carbon dioxide concentrations and thus affect climate.

Step 3.1 - Collect and Analyze CO₂ Data

Featured Resource - GHG graphing tool

Type: Data Analysis

Science Standards:

Learning Goal: Students design and carry out an investigation of their own design.

Summary: Students use Interactive Atmospheric Data Visualization (IADV) Tool to investigate patterns in CO₂ concentrations over time.

Teaching Strategies and Directions

Use Interactive Atmospheric Data Visualization (IADV) Tool to investigate patterns in CO₂ concentrations over time.

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Provenance: NOAA
Reuse: This item is offered under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ You may reuse this item for non-commercial purposes as long as you provide attribution and offer any derivative works under a similar license.

Featured resource - GHG graphing tool
The Interactive Atmospheric Data Visualization (IADV) tool provides access to data on the abundance of gases measured at more than 200 sampling sites around the world. Students can generate time series graphs showing how the amount of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and various chlorofluorocarbons have changed over time at any sampling site. (source: NOAA Dataset Galley)

Follow the instructions below to access data.

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1. Choose program: Carbon Cycle Gases
  - Select: Summit, Greenland
  - Choose plot type: Time Series Time Span: All a graph of all available data will be generated.
  - View the graph online or save it as a PDF file
  - Next, Choose plot type: Seasonal Patterns
  - Note your observations of when CO₂ concentrations are at their maximum and minimum.
2. Select a second site in the Southern hemisphere e.g. South Pole
  - Choose plot type: Seasonal Patterns; note your observations of when CO₂ concentrations are at their maximum and minimum.
  - Compare Summit Greenland patterns to South Pole patterns. Consider the following questions:
    
    Draw the patterns of CO₂ concentration / year for each site.
    
    Compare and contrast the seasonal patterns for each. What similarities and differences do you observe?
3. Select Mauna Loa, Hawaii
  - Choose Carbon Cycle gases
  - Choose plot type: Time Series
  - Describe the patterns of the gas concentrations over the time of record (1969-2015)
4. Select the Latitude distribution (multiple sites) and choose 5 second frames / second animation. Take a moment to understand what the graph is telling you. Note the latitudes on the top axis of the graph.
  - Read the information below the graph explaining the data
  - Note the dates in the upper right corner of the graph.
  - Click the Play button. While watching the animation, consider the following questions:
    
    Describe your observations of the changes in the blue line.
    
    Which part of the globe sees the greatest fluctuation in the annual amount of GHG?
    
    Why do you think this is the case?

Step 3.2 - Observe carbon in motion

Featured Resource - NASA | A Year in the Life of Earth's CO₂

Type: Data Analysis

Science Standards:

Learning Goal: Students learn how CO₂ is tracked in the atmosphere.

Summary: Students read an article and watch a short NASA video to learn how CO₂ is tracked in the atmosphere and how its concentration varies over time and space.

Teaching Strategies and Directions

Bring it together: Plants and CO₂
Read article: Tracking Carbon Dioxide Levels in the Atmosphere Carbon Tracker to learn more about the methods used by scientists to monitor CO2 in the atmosphere.
Watch video: NASA | A Year in the Life of Earth's CO₂

This excellent video of a computer model shows where CO₂ is generated and distributed over the period of one year. The video nicely links CO₂ concentration fluctuations to photosynthesis on a seasonal cycle.

Sample questions for this video:
1. Students see how CO₂ levels change over the course of one year on an online animated model. They discover the cyclic changes caused by seasons and other changes caused by industrial activity and fires.
2. Show the video with the sound turned off. Explain the color key below the video.
3. Stop the video at the 1:00 mark. Ask students to interpret the data. What is causing the increasing amounts of CO₂ in the northern hemisphere?
4. Continue the video and stop at the 1:45. Ask students how the pattern of carbon dioxide has changed. Point out the date of the frame. What is causing the increase in CO₂ in the Southern Hemisphere?
5. Proceed to the end of the clip. Ask students to interpret the data for summer vs. winter in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Step 3.3 - Begin to construct explanation of carbon pathways

Featured Resource - Part 6 of Carbon Pathways EET chapter

Type: Data Analysis

Science Standards: See this page

Learning Goal: Students design and carry out an investigation of their own design.

Summary: Students investigate the link between vegetation and how CO₂ concentrations.