A Year In The Life Of Earth's CO2

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A Year In The Life Of Earth's CO2
http://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/details.cgi?aid=11719

Goddard Media Studios, NASA

This high-resolution narrated video shows levels and movements of CO2 globally through the course of a year.

Video length is 3:11 min.

Learn more about Teaching Climate Literacy and Energy Awareness»

See how this Animation supports the Next Generation Science Standards»

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Middle School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 4

MS-ESS2.D1: Weather and climate are influenced by interactions involving sunlight, the ocean, the atmosphere, ice, landforms, and living things. These interactions vary with latitude, altitude, and local and regional geography, all of which can affect oceanic and atmospheric flow patterns.

MS-ESS3.D1: Human activities, such as the release of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels, are major factors in the current rise in Earth’s mean surface temperature (global warming). Reducing the level of climate change and reducing human vulnerability to whatever climate changes do occur depend on the understanding of climate science, engineering capabilities, and other kinds of knowledge, such as understanding of human behavior and on applying that knowledge wisely in decisions and activities.

MS-PS3.D1: The chemical reaction by which plants produce complex food molecules (sugars) requires an energy input (i.e., from sunlight) to occur. In this reaction, carbon dioxide and water combine to form carbon-based organic molecules and release oxygen.

MS-PS3.D2: Cellular respiration in plants and animals involve chemical reactions with oxygen that release stored energy. In these processes, complex molecules containing carbon react with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and other materials.

Cross Cutting Concepts: 3

Patterns, Cause and effect

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Science and Engineering Practices: 3

Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Asking Questions and Defining Problems

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Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Asking Questions and Defining Problems

MS-P1.1: Ask questions that arise from careful observation of phenomena, models, or unexpected results, to clarify and/or seek additional information.

MS-P1.2: ask questions to identify and/or clarify evidence and/or the premise(s) of an argument.

MS-P4.2: Use graphical displays (e.g., maps, charts, graphs, and/or tables) of large data sets to identify temporal and spatial relationships.

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High School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 4

HS-ESS2.D2: Gradual atmospheric changes were due to plants and other organisms that captured carbon dioxide and released oxygen.

HS-ESS2.D3: Changes in the atmosphere due to human activity have increased carbon dioxide concentrations and thus affect climate.

HS-LS2.B3: Photosynthesis and cellular respiration are important components of the carbon cycle, in which carbon is exchanged among the biosphere, atmosphere, oceans, and geosphere through chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes.

HS-PS3.D2: The main way that solar energy is captured and stored on Earth is through the complex chemical process known as photosynthesis.

Cross Cutting Concepts: 2

Patterns, Cause and effect

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Science and Engineering Practices: 3

Asking Questions and Defining Problems, Analyzing and Interpreting Data

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Asking Questions and Defining Problems, Analyzing and Interpreting Data

HS-P1.1: Ask questions that arise from careful observation of phenomena, or unexpected results, to clarify and/or seek additional information.

HS-P1.2: ask questions that arise from examining models or a theory, to clarify and/or seek additional information and relationships.

HS-P4.1: Analyze data using tools, technologies, and/or models (e.g., computational, mathematical) in order to make valid and reliable scientific claims or determine an optimal design solution.

Grade Level

Middle (6-8)
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High School (9-12)
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College Lower (13-14)
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College Upper (15-16)
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Topics

Carbon Cycle
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Atmospheric Composition
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Measurements and Observations
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Measuring and Modeling Climate
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Climate Literacy

This Animation builds on the following concepts of Climate Literacy.

Click a topic below for supporting information, teaching ideas, and sample activities.

Notes From Our Reviewers The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials
Teaching Tips | Science | Pedagogy | Technical Details

Teaching Tips

Use the video after an introduction to greenhouse gases or atmospheric CO₂ for a good visual follow up or reinforcement of what's happening. Close-up short clips help to focus in on areas that could be of interest to students - including one over North America.
Ask students to consider emissions standards or current global emissions agreements and how those are or are not relevant to other nations.
Use this video when discussing the carbon cycle or before considering how the high levels of CO₂ in the atmosphere affect oceans, temperature, and other environmental processes.
Visualizations can be used to have students point out where the primary centers of excess CO₂ emissions are.

About the Content

A narrated video and a series of visualizations that provide ultra-high-resolution NASA computer models to look at how carbon dioxide in the atmosphere travels around the globe. The visualizations also illustrate differences in carbon dioxide levels in the northern and southern hemispheres and distinct swings in global carbon dioxide concentrations as the growth cycle of plants and trees changes with the seasons.
Comments from expert scientist:
Scientific strengths:
- amazing overall visual
- great, clear dialogue and description of photosynthesis CO2 uptake and CO release, differences between the N and S hemisphere concentrations
- also really interesting to see the month-long simulations in specific regions

About the Pedagogy

Would work well when discussing greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, or other emissions. Helps to show how gases like CO₂ move in the atmosphere and disperse globally through jet streams, storms, and other forces that are apparent in the visuals. Could fit in with lessons on the atmosphere or seasons.
The video explains the seasonal variations in the emission and transport of CO₂ in the atmosphere. It should be shown before students look at any of the other visualizations.
Would work great as a formative prompt.

Technical Details/Ease of Use

High quality and easy to use. Also available at this site http://www.nasa.gov/press/goddard/2014/november/nasa-computer-model-provides-a-new-portrait-of-carbon-dioxide/#.VGqQ1PTF-LG
Also available in the NASA visualization APP for iPad.

Entered the Collection: April 2018 Last Reviewed: May 2015

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Middle School (see details)

Middle School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 4

Cross Cutting Concepts: 3

Science and Engineering Practices: 3

High School (see details)

High School

Disciplinary Core Ideas: 4

Cross Cutting Concepts: 2

Science and Engineering Practices: 3

Grade Level

Topics

Climate Literacy

Teaching Tips

About the Content

About the Pedagogy

Technical Details/Ease of Use

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