The Global Carbon Budget 1960 - 2100
https://galenmckinley.github.io/CarbonCycle/applet/
https://galenmckinley.github.io/CarbonCycle/applet/
Galen McKinley, University of Wisconsin - Madison
This simulation allows the user to project CO2 sources and sinks by adjusting the points on a graph and then running the simulation to see projections for the impact on atmospheric CO2 and global temperatures.
See how this Simulation/Interactive
supports the Next Generation Science Standards»
High School: 2 Performance Expectations, 7 Disciplinary Core Ideas, 2 Cross Cutting Concepts, 9 Science and Engineering Practices
Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»

High School: 2 Performance Expectations, 7 Disciplinary Core Ideas, 2 Cross Cutting Concepts, 9 Science and Engineering Practices
Topics
Grade Level
Climate Literacy
About Teaching Climate Literacy
Energy Literacy
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Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy |
Technical Details
Teaching Tips
- Direct students to watch each projection at least twice: Once while focusing on the graph being produced, and then again to watch changes in the graphic at the bottom of the page.
About the Science
- An interactive way to look at the global carbon cycle and its relationship with global warming.
- The estimated global temperature response is a rough scaling based upon average IPCC AR4 (2007) model sensitivity to atmospheric CO2.
- Students can adjust CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and land use (sources) and uptake from oceans and land (sinks).
- Comments from expert scientist: A one-of-a-kind resource that I use frequently in graduate and undergrad teaching, teacher training, and K-gray outreach. An essential tool for teaching climate science, climate policy, scenario development and integrated assessment.
About the Pedagogy
- Excellent graphic that shows changes in the carbon cycle given different scenarios of fossil fuel use in the future.
- Students use the interactive as a tool to predict what temperature conditions on Earth will be given different levels of carbon released into the atmosphere.
- Shows the complexities of climate change and the usefulness and limitations of modeling.
Technical Details/Ease of Use
- The teacher may need to explain to students that they must select a button under sources or sinks before they can manipulate the graph on the left.
- Good introductory material on home page http://carboncycle.aos.wisc.edu/. Easy to use and analyze the results.