Global Warming and the Human impact By: Paige Haney

Introduction

Global Warming is a Hoax Introduction The most unique feature of planet Earth is it’s atmosphere. Earth’s atmosphere has a combination of gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone which are called greenhouse gases. This combination of gases both absorb and emit radiation in a way that keeps the Earth’s surface warm enough to support life. The process of warming the atmosphere with greenhouse gases is known as the greenhouse effect. An imbalance of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere has caused many people to fear that the Earth is retaining too much heat—this is what we call Global Warming. There are many natural sources of these green house gases on Earth but the increase in green house gases, mainly carbon dioxide, due to human activities has been noted since the industrial revolution—this is called anthropogenic influence. Global warming has been a controversial issue in our society. While many scientists suggest that there is no time to waste on a debate, many people today still believe that global warming is a hoax. It is important to recognize the other side of this great debate so watch the video link below. Global Warming is a Hoax

Your Task You have recently accepted a position with the government to analyze the human impact on global warming. You will need to analyze data to write a plan for the future to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and lessen the impact humans are having on our planet.

Task You must understand the carbon cycle, green house gases and the greenhouse effect, global warming, and climate change. You will be able to understand and discuss the human impact. You will be able to suggest possible solutions to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Before you Begin, have some fun! Watch Spongebob explain his Impact on Global warming!

Process Global Warming ‘Roadmap’

Carbon Cycle & Tutorial Guide Process Carbon Cycle & Tutorial Guide Step 1: Complete the interactive tutorial (Carbon Cycle) about the Carbon Cycle and fill in the Tutorial Guide above as you move through the tutorial Save the Tutorial Guide as Last Name, First Name_TutorialGuide and submit in the dropbox below Submit Tutorial Guide Here

Process The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming Step 2: Watch the video above on the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming When you finish the video: Write down 2 questions you have about global warming and climate change on our planet Submit them to the dropbox below as a word document saved as Last Name, First Name_NASA Video ***Be sure to also save a copy of the questions on your computer for a later assignment Submit Questions Here

Process Step 3: Visit and read the articles from the 3 websites below **take good notes while you are reading through these website as they will be your official notes on Global Warming and Climate Change as well as help you on your final assignment** Global Warming Guided Notes What Is Global Warming? EPA: Climate Change Facts NASA: Climate Change

Process Step 4: Now that you have investigated Global Warming and Climate Change, open up the document you submitted above with the questions from the video in Step 2. ---If you can answer the questions from your investigation, please answer them and submit the in the dropbox below. ---If you cannot answer the questions then write a brief paragraph describing how you would go about researching to find these answers if you had to and submit it in the dropbox below. Submit Answered Questions Here Step 5: Visit the link below and play around with the simulation to reduce human influenced Carbon Dioxide emissions. It is important that you take this step seriously and pay attention to the steps necessary to significantly reduce our impact by the year 2050. Reduce Our Emissions Now!

Conclusion

Conclusion Your final task is to use the information you learned in this webquest along with the interactive game you played with in Step 5 to design and write a 2-3 page proposal for a plan to reduce carbon emissions in the future. Your report must include: Background information about how human activity (anthropogenic) has influenced global warming A detailed plan about what we need to do to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from human activity (designed using the game from step as a reference) Your opinion on if the plan you suggest is reasonable and achievable by 2050 ***Note: The game requires you to reduce carbon emissions to 20% in order to have completed the task…for the purpose of this assignment and to ensure variety in every ones papers, you need to reduce it to anywhere between 20-35%

Evaluation “How did I do?”