Reference no: EM133478825

Questions:

1. What is weather? What is climate? Climate change?

2. Under the Times Series Section keep all information as it is currently listed, but change the start year to 2000. Detail how the average temperature has varied in the conterminous United States since your birth. What is the overall trend? Write at least 3 sentences.

3. Imagine that almost every summer for the past decade has been hotter than usual. Is this a sign of climate change? Yes or no? Explain why. Write at least 3 sentences.

4. Imagine that last summer was much hotter than usual where you live. Is this a sign of climate change? Yes or no? Explain why. Write at least 3 sentences.

5. Go to Greenhouse Gases Resources and answer the following questions regarding the Greenhouse Effect.

a. What is the greenhouse effect? Explain at least 2 sentences.

b. What are the four categories of greenhouse gases and their percentages?

c. What are the sources of these greenhouse gases (click on each category to see)?

6. Using the NASA's Global Climate Change website, answer the following questions:

a. What is the current amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide? (answer in parts per million).

b. How much has the global temperature increased since 1880?

c. How is the artic sea ice minimum compared to previous decades?

d. How much ice sheet loss is averaged per year?

e. How much is sea level changing each year?

7. Go to EPA Carbon Footprint Calculator and complete the carbon footprint calculator to estimate your personal carbon emissions.

a. What was your estimated annual CO2 emissions in lbs?

b. What could be the new total after your planned actions?

c. What is the U.S. average for a family the same size as yours?

d. How did you compare? Calculate your percent difference using your value as the new value and the average U.S. value for the old value. Percent difference = (new - old/ old) * 100. Show your work.