# data[].attributes.body
1&2: https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2016/10/04/public-views-on-climate-change-and-climate-scientists/
3: https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/which-parts-planet-are-warming-fastest-and-why#:~:text=The%20earth's%20largest%20land%20masses,reflect%20energy%20from%20the%20sun.&text=For%20more%20than%20a%20century,labs%2C%20ships%2C%20and%20satellites.
https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/global-temperature/

4:
https://ourworldindata.org/co2/country/united-states?country=~USA
https://ourworldindata.org/world-population-growth

5:
https://www.businessinsider.com/carbon-dioxide-record-human-health-effects-2018-5#:~:text=CO2%20doesn't%20directly%20harm,to%20atmospheric%20levels%20of%20CO2.

g: https://www.climate.gov/news-features/climate-qa/how-do-we-know-build-carbon-dioxide-atmosphere-caused-humans

6:  https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/environmental-refugee/

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/climate-change-is-already-fueling-global-migration-the-world-isnt-ready-to-meet-peoples-needs-experts-say#:~:text=Most%20climate%20migrants%20move%20within,seas%20or%20another%20weather%20calamity.

7:
https://www.mlive.com/news/2020/03/interactive-graphic-shows-historic-water-fluctuations-on-the-great-lakes.html

https://www.wpr.org/climate-change-uncertain-future-great-lakes-water-levels#:~:text=Those%20findings%20are%20consistent%20with,2050%20due%20to%20climate%20change.

8: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/gasoline/gasoline-and-the-environment.php
https://ourworldindata.org/emissions-by-fuel

9: https://www.wri.org/insights/6-pressing-questions-about-beef-and-climate-change-answered#:~:text=How%20does%20beef%20production%20cause,they%20digest%20grasses%20and%20plants.

10: https://8billiontrees.com/carbon-offsets-credits/carbon-ecological-footprint-calculators/boat-calculator/
https://www.seafoodwatch.org/seafood-basics/sustainable-solutions/consider-climate#:~:text=In%20wild%2Dcaught%20fisheries%2C%20the,very%20fuel%20intensive%20to%20catch.

11:
g1: https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-global-greenhouse-gas-emissions

g2:  https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-atmospheric-concentrations-greenhouse-gases

12: https://icecores.org/about-ice-cores

https://www.rmg.co.uk/stories/our-ocean-our-planet/ice-cores-climate-change

13:  https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-sea-level

14:  https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/climate-change-impacts/melting-arctic-sea-ice-and-ocean-currents#:~:text=The%20melting%20ice%20causes%20freshwater,caused%20the%20currents%20to%20slow.

https://cid-inc.com/blog/irrigating-with-saline-or-seawater/#:~:text=Using%20seawater%20for%20irrigation%20is,the%20plants%20to%20the%20soils.

15:  https://www.whoi.edu/know-your-ocean/ocean-topics/how-the-ocean-works/ocean-chemistry/ocean-acidification/
g: https://aoan.aoos.org/intro-to-oa/

16: https://www.epa.gov/climate-indicators/climate-change-indicators-sea-surface-temperature

17: https://ugc.berkeley.edu/background-content/re-radiation-of-heat/#:~:text=Greenhouse%20gases%20in%20the%20atmosphere%20repeatedly%20absorb%20and%20re%2Dradiate,from%20our%20atmosphere%20to%20space.

18: https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2021/02/25/carbon-dioxide-cause-global-warming/#:~:text=Carbon%20dioxide%2C%20for%20example%2C%20absorbs,energy%20back%20in%20all%20directions.

19: https://climatekids.nasa.gov/cloud-climate/#:~:text=Clouds%20can%20trap%20that%20heat,in%20a%20big%2C%20warm%20blanket.&text=So%20clouds%20can%20have%20both%20a%20cooling%20effect%20and%20a%20warming%20effect.

2
0: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ninonina.html#:~:text=El%20Ni%C3%B1o%20causes%20the%20Pacific,life%20off%20the%20Pacific%20coast.

21:
https://www.weather.gov/iwx/decade_weather_2010_2019

22: https://theconversation.com/yes-more-carbon-dioxide-in-the-atmosphere-helps-plants-grow-but-its-no-excuse-to-downplay-climate-change-130603

23: https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2017.00058

24: https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/beyond-data/how-tree-rings-tell-time-and-climate-history

g: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/tree-ring

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Key Points

Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and certain manufactured greenhouse gases have all risen significantly over the last few hundred years (see Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4).

Historical measurements show that the current global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are unprecedented compared with the past 800,000 years (see Figures 1, 2, and 3).

Carbon dioxide concentrations have increased substantially since the beginning of the industrial era, rising from an annual average of 280 ppm in the late 1700s to 401 ppm as measured at Mauna Loa in 2015-a 43 percent increase (see Figure 1). Almost all of this increase is due to human activities.

The concentration of methane in the atmosphere has more than doubled since preindustrial times, reaching approximately 1,800 ppb in recent years (see the range of measurements for 2014 and 2015 in Figure 2). This increase is predominantly due to agriculture and fossil fuel use.

Over the past 800,000 years, concentrations of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere rarely exceeded 280 ppb. Levels have risen since the 1920s, however, reaching a new high of 328 ppb in 2015 (average of three sites in Figure 3). This increase is primarily due to agriculture.

Concentrations of many of the halogenated gases shown in Figure 4 were essentially zero a few decades ago but have increased rapidly as they have been incorporated into industrial products and processes. Some of these chemicals have been or are currently being phased out of use because they are ozone-depleting substances, meaning they also cause harm to the Earth's protective ozone layer. As a result, concentrations of many major ozone-depleting gases have begun to stabilize or decline (see Figure 4, left panel). Concentrations of other halogenated gases have continued to rise, however, especially where the gases have emerged as substitutes for ozone-depleting chemicals (see Figure 4, right panel).

Overall, the total amount of ozone in the atmosphere decreased by about 3 percent between 1979 and 2014 (see Figure 5). All of the decrease happened in the stratosphere, with most of the decrease occurring between 1979 and 1994. Changes in stratospheric ozone reflect the effect of ozone-depleting substances. These chemicals have been released into the air for many years, but recently, international efforts have reduced emissions and phased out their use.

Globally, the amount of ozone in the troposphere increased by about 3 percent between 1979 and 2014 (see Figure 5). ​

Background

Since the Industrial Revolution began in the 1700s, people have added a substantial amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests, and conducting other activities (see the U.S. and Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions indicators). When greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere, many remain there for long time periods ranging from a decade to many millennia. Over time, these gases are removed from the atmosphere by chemical reactions or by emissions sinks, such as the oceans and vegetation, which absorb greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. As a result of human activities, however, these gases are entering the atmosphere more quickly than they are being removed, and thus their concentrations are increasing.

Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and certain manufactured gases called halogenated gases (gases that contain chlorine, fluorine, or bromine) become well mixed throughout the global atmosphere because of their relatively long lifetimes and because of transport by winds. Concentrations of these greenhouse gases are measured in parts per million (ppm), parts per billion (ppb), or parts per trillion (ppt) by volume. In other words, a concentration of 1 ppb for a given gas means there is one molecule of that gas in every 1 billion molecules of air. Some halogenated gases are considered major greenhouse gases due to their very high global warming potentials and long atmospheric lifetimes even if they only exist at a few ppt ( see table).

Ozone is also a greenhouse gas, but it differs from other greenhouse gases in several ways. The effects of ozone depend on its altitude, or where the gas is located vertically in the atmosphere. Most ozone naturally exists in the layer of the atmosphere called the stratosphere, which ranges from approximately 6 to 30 miles above the Earth's surface. Ozone in the stratosphere has a slight net warming effect on the planet, but it is good for life on Earth because it absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, preventing it from reaching the Earth's surface. In the troposphere-the layer of the atmosphere near ground level-ozone is an air pollutant that is harmful to breathe, a main ingredient of urban smog, and an important greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change (see the Climate Forcing indicator). Unlike the other major greenhouse gases, tropospheric ozone only lasts for days to weeks, so levels often vary by location and by season.

About the Indicator

This indicator describes concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It focuses on the major greenhouse gases that result from human activities.

For carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and halogenated gases, recent measurements come from monitoring stations around the world, while measurements of older air come from air bubbles trapped in layers of ice from Antarctica and Greenland. By determining the age of the ice layers and the concentrations of gases trapped inside, scientists can learn what the atmosphere was like thousands of years ago.

This indicator also shows data from satellite instruments that measure ozone density in the troposphere, the stratosphere, and the "total column," or all layers of the atmosphere. These satellite data are routinely compared with ground-based instruments to confirm their accuracy. Ozone data have been averaged worldwide for each year to smooth out the regional and seasonal variations.

About the Data

Indicator Notes

This indicator includes several of the most important halogenated gases, but some others are not shown. Many other halogenated gases are also greenhouse gases, but Figure 4 is limited to a set of common examples that represent most of the major types of these gases. The indicator also does not address certain other pollutants that can affect climate by either reflecting or absorbing energy. For example, sulfate particles can reflect sunlight away from the Earth, while black carbon aerosols (soot) absorb energy. Data for nitrogen trifluoride (Figure 4) reflect modeled averages based on measurements made in the Northern Hemisphere and some locations in the Southern Hemisphere, to represent global average concentrations over time. The global averages for ozone only cover the area between 50°N and 50°S latitude (77 percent of the Earth's surface), because at higher latitudes the lack of sunlight in winter creates data gaps and the angle of incoming sunlight during the rest of the year reduces the accuracy of the satellite measuring technique.

Data Sources

Global atmospheric concentration measurements for carbon dioxide (Figure 1), methane (Figure 2), and nitrous oxide (Figure 3) come from a variety of monitoring programs and studies published in peer-reviewed literature. Global atmospheric concentration data for selected halogenated gases (Figure 4) were compiled by the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and a peer-reviewed study on nitrogen trifluoride. A similar figure with many of these gases appears in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Fifth Assessment Report. Satellite measurements of ozone were processed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and validated using ground-based measurements collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Technical Documentation

References
9. Rigby, M. 2016 update to data originally published in: Arnold, T., C.M. Harth, J. Mühle, A.J. Manning, P.K. Salameh, J. Kim, D.J. Ivy, L.P. Steele, V.V. Petrenko, J.P. Severinghaus, D. Baggenstos, and R.F. Weiss. 2013. Nitrogen trifluoride global emissions estimated from updated atmospheric measurements. P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 110(6):2029-2034. Data updated July 2016. 10. NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2016. Halocarbons and Other Atmospheric Trace Species group (HATS). Accessed June 2016. www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/hats. 11. NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). 2013. Data-TOMS/SBUV TOR data products. Accessed November 2013. http://science.larc.nasa.gov/TOR/data.html.
Atmospheric Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases: Citations for Figures 1, 2, and 3

Figure 1
EPICA Dome C and Vostok Station, Antarctica: approximately 796,562 BCE to 1813 CE
Lüthi, D., M. Le Floch, B. Bereiter, T. Blunier, J.-M. Barnola, U. Siegenthaler, D. Raynaud, J. Jouzel, H. Fischer, K. Kawamura, and T.F. Stocker. 2008. High-resolution carbon dioxide concentration record 650,000-800,000 years before present. Nature 453:379-382.www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/pubs/luethi2008/luethi2008.html. Law Dome, Antarctica, 75-year smoothed: approximately 1010 CE to 1975 CE
Etheridge, D.M., L.P. Steele, R.L. Langenfelds, R.J. Francey, J.-M. Barnola, and V.I. Morgan. 1998. Historical CO₂ records from the Law Dome DE08, DE08-2, and DSS ice cores. In: Trends: A compendium of data on global change. Oak Ridge, TN: U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed September 14, 2005. http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/co2/lawdome.html. Siple Station, Antarctica: approximately 1744 CE to 1953 CE
Neftel, A., H. Friedli, E. Moor, H. Lötscher, H. Oeschger, U. Siegenthaler, and B. Stauffer. 1994. Historical carbon dioxide record from the Siple Station ice core. In: Trends: A compendium of data on global change. Oak Ridge, TN: U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed September 14, 2005.http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/co2/siple.html. Mauna Loa, Hawaii: 1959 CE to 2015 CE
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2016. Annual mean carbon dioxide concentrations for Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Accessed April 14, 2016. ftp://ftp.cmdl.noaa.gov/products/trends/co2/co2_annmean_mlo.txt. Barrow, Alaska: 1974 CE to 2014 CE
Cape Matatula, American Samoa: 1976 CE to 2014 CE
South Pole, Antarctica: 1976 CE to 2014 CE
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2016. Monthly mean carbon dioxide concentrations for Barrow, Alaska; Cape Matatula, American Samoa; and the South Pole. Accessed April 14, 2016. ftp://ftp.cmdl.noaa.gov/data/trace_gases/co2/in-situ/surface. Cape Grim, Australia: 1992 CE to 2006 CE
Shetland Islands, Scotland: 1993 CE to 2002 CE
Steele, L.P., P.B. Krummel, and R.L. Langenfelds. 2007. Atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (ppmv) derived from flask air samples collected at Cape Grim, Australia, and Shetland Islands, Scotland. Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation. Accessed January 20, 2009. http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/ftp/trends/co2/csiro. Lampedusa Island, Italy: 1993 CE to 2000 CE
Chamard, P., L. Ciattaglia, A. di Sarra, and F. Monteleone. 2001. Atmospheric carbon dioxide record from flask measurements at Lampedusa Island. In: Trends: A compendium of data on global change. Oak Ridge, TN: U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed September 14, 2005.http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/co2/lampis.html.
Figure 2
EPICA Dome C, Antarctica: approximately 797,446 BCE to 1937 CE
Loulergue, L., A. Schilt, R. Spahni, V. Masson-Delmotte, T. Blunier, B. Lemieux, J.-M. Barnola, D. Raynaud, T.F. Stocker, and J. Chappellaz. 2008. Orbital and millennial-scale features of atmospheric CH₄ over the past 800,000 years. Nature 453:383-386. www.ncdc.noaa.gov/paleo/pubs/loulergue2008/loulergue2008.html. Law Dome, Antarctica: approximately 1008 CE to 1980 CE
Etheridge, D.M., L.P. Steele, R.J. Francey, and R.L. Langenfelds. 2002. Historic CH₄ records from Antarctic and Greenland ice cores, Antarctic firn data, and archived air samples from Cape Grim, Tasmania. In: Trends: A compendium of data on global change. Oak Ridge, TN: U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed September 13, 2005. http://cdiac.ornl.gov/trends/atm_meth/lawdome_meth.html. Cape Grim, Australia: 1985 CE to 2015 CE
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2016. Monthly mean CH4 concentrations for Cape Grim, Australia. Accessed July 16, 2016. ftp://ftp.cmdl.noaa.gov/data/trace_gases/ch4/flask/surface/ch4_cgo_surface-flask_1_ccgg_month.txt. Mauna Loa, Hawaii: 1984 CE to 2015 CE
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2016. Monthly mean CH4 concentrations for Mauna Loa, Hawaii. Accessed July 16, 2016. ftp://ftp.cmdl.noaa.gov/data/trace_gases/ch4/flask/surface/ch4_mlo_surface-flask_1_ccgg_month.txt. Shetland Islands, Scotland: 1993 CE to 2001 CE
Steele, L.P., P.B. Krummel, and R.L. Langenfelds. 2002. Atmospheric methane record from Shetland Islands, Scotland (October 2002 version). In: Trends: A compendium of data on global change. Oak Ridge, TN: U.S. Department of Energy. Accessed September 13, 2005.http://cdiac.esd.ornl.gov/trends/atm_meth/csiro/csiro-shetlandch4.html.
Figure 3
EPICA Dome C, Antarctica: approximately 796,475 BCE to 1937 CE
Schilt, A., M. Baumgartner, T. Blunier, J. Schwander, R. Spahni, H. Fischer, and T.F. Stocker. 2010. Glacial-interglacial and millennial scale variations in the atmospheric nitrous oxide concentration during the last 800,000 years. Quaternary Sci. Rev. 29:182-192. ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/paleo/icecore/antarctica/epica_domec/edc-n2o-2010-800k.txt. Antarctica: approximately 1903 CE to 1976 CE
Battle, M., M. Bender, T. Sowers, P. Tans, J. Butler, J. Elkins, J. Ellis, T. Conway, N. Zhang, P. Lang, and A. Clarke. 1996. Atmospheric gas concentrations over the past century measured in air from firn at the South Pole. Nature 383:231-235. ftp://daac.ornl.gov/data/global_climate/global_N_cycle/data/global_N_perturbations.txt. Cape Grim, Australia: 1979 CE to 2013 CE
AGAGE (Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment). 2015. Monthly mean N₂O concentrations for Cape Grim, Australia. Accessed June 5, 2015. http://ds.data.jma.go.jp/gmd/wdcgg/cgi-bin/wdcgg/catalogue.cgi. South Pole, Antarctica: 1998 CE to 2015 CE
Barrow, Alaska: 1999 CE to 2015 CE
Mauna Loa, Hawaii: 2000 CE to 2015 CE
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). 2016. Monthly mean N₂O concentrations for Barrow, Alaska; Mauna Loa, Hawaii; and the South Pole. Accessed June 8, 2016. www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/hats/insitu/cats/cats_conc.html. Printer-friendly PDF of all text and figures

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
climate change; global warming; science; indicator; data; greenhouse gas; global; atmosphere; concentration; carbon dioxide

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Climate Change Indicators: Atmospheric Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases | US EPA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and certain manufactured greenhouse gases have all risen significantly over the last few hundred years (see Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4). Historical measurements show that the current global atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are unprecedented compared with the past 800,000 years (see Figures 1, 2, and 3).

# data[].attributes.headline
1. Why do people believe global warming is occurring on Earth? 

# data[].attributes.subject
1. Why do people believe global warming is occurring on Earth? 

# data[].attributes.body
According to Pew Research a study shows that a total of 80% of Americans believe that the Earth is warming. 31% of them say that it is natural causes that are warming the earth while 48% say it is due to human activity.

# data[].attributes.headline
2. Why are some people skeptical of global warming? 

# data[].attributes.subject
2. Why are some people skeptical of global warming? 

# data[].attributes.body
In a survey by Pew Research 20% say that there is not enough solid evidence for climate change. Not enough evidence is what makes people skeptical about global warming.

# data[].attributes.headline
3. Where is the fastest warming of Earth’s atmosphere occurring? 

# data[].attributes.subject
3. Where is the fastest warming of Earth’s atmosphere occurring? 

# data[].attributes.body
An article by Climate Portal in 2021. It discusses how Atmospheric changes like wind and cloud cover have affected areas like the Middle East, northern Asia and some areas of Europe are warming faster than the planet as whole.

# data[].attributes.headline
4. Comparison of global population numbers with rising carbon dioxide levels

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4. Comparison of global population numbers with rising carbon dioxide levels

# data[].attributes.headline
5. Are increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere safe for human existence?

# data[].attributes.subject
5. Are increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere safe for human existence?

# data[].attributes.body
An article by Insider says that even though we are at the highest level of CO2. It does not directly affect humans the excessive CO2 is being trapped and raising the temperature of our planet.

# data[].attributes.headline
6. a) What’s an environmental refugee? b) What places will people flee from? c) Where will they go?

# data[].attributes.subject
6. a) What’s an environmental refugee? b) What places will people flee from? c) Where will they go?

# data[].attributes.body
a) An environmental refugee is a person who has to flee their home due to the poor climate affecting them negatively.

b) Many places that refugees leave are Venice, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Buenos Aries. Natural disasters rising sea levels and drought, make the area uninhabitable.

c) Refugees do not want to move too far from home. They usually move more within their countries' borders to more rural areas or cities.

# data[].attributes.headline
7. Let’s say after college you return to Lisle permanently for the rest of your life. We live in close proximity to the Great Lakes. In 50 years, would we be fleeing our area or accepting environmental refugees into our area? Explain. 

# data[].attributes.subject
7. Let’s say after college you return to Lisle permanently for the rest of your life. We live in close proximity to the Great Lakes. In 50 years, would we be fleeing our area or accepting environmental refugees into our area? Explain. 

# data[].attributes.body
We most likely will be fleeing the area because of rising level of water. According to a study by Michigan Technological University Lake Superior is expected to rise 7.5 inches and Lake Michigan-Huron 17 inches by 2050.

# data[].attributes.headline
8. Does the gasoline that most cars need to operate and function contribute to the Earth’s greenhouse effect? 

# data[].attributes.subject
8. Does the gasoline that most cars need to operate and function contribute to the Earth’s greenhouse effect? 

# data[].attributes.body
The US Energy Administration discusses the evaporation of gasoline. They say that when gas is burned vapors are emitted into the air. The burning of gasoline produces an excess amount of carbon dioxide.

# data[].attributes.headline
9. How does an increasing consumption of and demand for meat in a human’s diet relate to carbon emissions?

# data[].attributes.subject
9. How does an increasing consumption of and demand for meat in a human’s diet relate to carbon emissions?

# data[].attributes.body
Word Institute Resources says " Cows and other ruminant animals (like goats and sheep) emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, as they digest grasses and plants." With more meat consumption it requires more cows. This causes the carbon emissions to increase.

# data[].attributes.headline
10. How does an increasing consumption of and demand for fish in a human’s diet relate to carbon emissions? 

# data[].attributes.subject
10. How does an increasing consumption of and demand for fish in a human’s diet relate to carbon emissions? 

# data[].attributes.body
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch says that fishing methods are one of the highest greenhouse gas contributors. The majority of these vessels that we fish on are diesel-powered and require a great amount for long catches. If we increase our consumption of fish we increase the demand for more fishing vessels which increases the carbon emmisions.

# data[].attributes.headline
11a.  Find a graphic of human-influenced carbon dioxide emissions and the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide. Do the graphs you found look like hockey sticks? Explain.  

# data[].attributes.subject
11a.  Find a graphic of human-influenced carbon dioxide emissions and the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide. Do the graphs you found look like hockey sticks? Explain.  

# data[].attributes.body
Human-influenced carbon dioxide emissions graphic.

# data[].attributes.body
Yes both graphs provided by the EPA look similar to a hockey stick. They show a steady increase in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon concentration over the years. They directly relate because as we emit more gas the high the carbon concentration will be.

# data[].attributes.headline
12.What can ice cores tell us about the history of Earth’s climate over time? How far back in time can ice cores provide information? 

# data[].attributes.subject
12.What can ice cores tell us about the history of Earth’s climate over time? How far back in time can ice cores provide information? 

# data[].attributes.body
The National Science Foundation (NSF) says that an ice core is "Ice cores are cylinders of ice drilled from ice sheets and glaciers." These ice cores can be used to help us gather knowledge about what the atmosphere, composition and the climate was like during snowfall. This can provide information from over many hundred thousands of years.

# data[].attributes.headline
13.How have sea levels fluctuated over the last several thousand years? Is this driven by natural circumstances or is this caused by human influence?

# data[].attributes.subject
13.How have sea levels fluctuated over the last several thousand years? Is this driven by natural circumstances or is this caused by human influence?

# data[].attributes.body
Data provided by the EPA shows that from 1880- 1993 the sea has risen about an average of .06 inches every year. It fluctuated in 1993 to .14-.16 inches. Also, the coastlines of the US during 1960-2021 have risen 8 inches. Factors of the rising levels can be the melting of ice sheets and glaciers due to the warming climate. This warming climate can be primarily due to human emissions of greenhouse gasses.

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14.If the glaciers melt, where does most of that liquid (freshwater) go? (Is ocean water drinkable? Can ocean water be used to irrigate crops for 7 billion Earthlings?) 

# data[].attributes.subject
14.If the glaciers melt, where does most of that liquid (freshwater) go? (Is ocean water drinkable? Can ocean water be used to irrigate crops for 7 billion Earthlings?) 

# data[].attributes.body
UCAR a center for science education states that "The melting glaciers cause freshwater to be added to the seawater in the Arctic Ocean which flows into the North Atlantic." Since the sea is salt water it is undrinkable unless boiled but could be used for crop irrigation but causes too much saline making the water move out of the plants.

# data[].attributes.headline
15.What is ocean acidification? How has this influenced our oceans over the last 100 years? 

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15.What is ocean acidification? How has this influenced our oceans over the last 100 years? 

# data[].attributes.body
Ocean acidification is when the ocean becomes more acidic due to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide according to Oceanographic Organization.  In the last hundred years, The Alaskan Ocean Acidification Network shows that the CO2 and ph levels of the seawater have greatly increased.

# data[].attributes.headline
16.What are sea surface temperatures (SST)? Think of Goldilocks and the Three Bears...are SSTs too hot, too cold, or are they just right?

# data[].attributes.subject
16.What are sea surface temperatures (SST)? Think of Goldilocks and the Three Bears...are SSTs too hot, too cold, or are they just right?

# data[].attributes.body
The graph shown above is produced by the EPA. It displays at the sea surface temperature which is temperature of water only at the surface. At the moment the surface temperature is to hot and climbing.

# data[].attributes.headline
17.Why is there less heat escaping into space? 

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17.Why is there less heat escaping into space? 

# data[].attributes.body
According to the University of California, Berkeley. The earth surface heat is constantly being re absorbed and redirected by green house gasses. Therefore not escaping into space.

# data[].attributes.headline
18. How does carbon dioxide trap infrared radiation on Earth? 

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18. How does carbon dioxide trap infrared radiation on Earth? 

# data[].attributes.body
The excess CO2 from greenhouse gasses absorbs all the energies. It then is remitted in all directions. It is either directed into space or directed back into earth becoming trapped. Stated by Columbia Climate School.

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19. Clouds (water vapor) are considered a greenhouse gas. How can cloud coverage both complicate the heating of Earth and also help alleviate the heating of Earth?

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19. Clouds (water vapor) are considered a greenhouse gas. How can cloud coverage both complicate the heating of Earth and also help alleviate the heating of Earth?

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NASA states how clouds are an important factor in the cooling and heating of our planet. Clouds are able to trap the heat from the sun or they reflect it. When the heat is trapped by many clouds surrounding the earth like a huge blanket. This causes the temperature of our earth to increase.

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20.How do El Nino weather patterns influence climate?

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20.How do El Nino weather patterns influence climate?

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El Nino is an opposing climate pattern that break normal climate patterns ( the National Ocean Service). It pushes the warmer water back east. This affects climate of the western coastline of America causing it to become warmer.

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21.Think of Goldilocks and the Three Bears again. How would you characterize the weather patterns of the United States in the last decade from 2010 - 2020? Very severe weather patterns, very weak weather patterns, or consistently average weather patterns?

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21.Think of Goldilocks and the Three Bears again. How would you characterize the weather patterns of the United States in the last decade from 2010 - 2020? Very severe weather patterns, very weak weather patterns, or consistently average weather patterns?

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The National Weather Service shows us some patterns. It is mostly of severe weather that has affected us greatly in the past. It also slow the inconsistency as this weather ranges from snow to floods to drought in the US. For Illinois we see a steady increasing in precipitation.

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22.Carbon dioxide has been associated with the warming of Earth. You have learned in Biology class that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is taken out of the air by plants and trees through photosynthesis and replaced with breathable oxygen. a. Does this statement support global warming deniers? Explain. b. Does this statement support climate science research? Explain. c. Does your answer change when you consider deforestation and increased demand for paper and housing? 

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22.Carbon dioxide has been associated with the warming of Earth. You have learned in Biology class that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is taken out of the air by plants and trees through photosynthesis and replaced with breathable oxygen. a. Does this statement support global warming deniers? Explain. b. Does this statement support climate science research? Explain. c. Does your answer change when you consider deforestation and increased demand for paper and housing? 

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a)
No it does not support it. As more information if shown about how much CO2 is having to be filtered. Since there is so much trying to be filter it is showing how this increase in CO2 is a cause of global warming.

b) Yes it supports the research. Much of the research has been on the CO2 affects and causing climate change. This increase in CO2 that has to be filtered helps support climate change.

c) No my answer doesn't change.

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23.Droughts and forest fires are on the rise all around the world. If there’s no water for the plants to drink and survive, how can they effectively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere? 

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23.Droughts and forest fires are on the rise all around the world. If there’s no water for the plants to drink and survive, how can they effectively remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere? 

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There is a way plants combat the water storage. Frontiers for Young Minds states that when there is less water the plant increases its own storage or it changes and adapts like growing longer roots. This excess storage is what helps keep the plants alive and filter out the CO2.

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24.How does tree ring growth or lack of growth support or refute climate changes in the last 100 years?

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24.How does tree ring growth or lack of growth support or refute climate changes in the last 100 years?

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The growth of tree rings according to Climate.gov is very important to understand the change in weather. The rings can show us whether there has been an increase in precipitation or dryness. This graphic shows the decline of tree growth most likely due to climate change warming temperatures.