is the greenhouse effect?
gases are greenhouse gases?
has the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide changed in the
are some of the effects of increased concentration of carbon dioxide?
additional information, click .
graph shown provides information about the atmospheric concentration
carbon dioxide since 1960, measured in parts per million.
trends do you observe from the data?
you think these trends will continue in the near future?
kind of functions (linear, quadratic, exponential, etc.) would
describe the change in atmospheric CO2 concentration over the
last 40 years?
the average, how much is the concentration changing each year?
Mathematical Topics:Learn or review mathematical concepts and
to study trends in atmospheric CO2 concentration. See the menu at
:Apply mathematical concepts and use appropriate technology to
analyze past trends.
The table below
provides information on carbon dioxide concentration for selected
convenience, we will let t denote years since 2000; that is, t=0
in 2000. Let C denote
the carbon dioxide concentration. Make points out of the data and
use a (t,C) coordinate system.
linear regression to fit the data with a linear function. Call this
function C(t) and graph it.
each of the years you have data provided, compare the actual carbon
concentration with the concentration predicted by your function.
Why do you think the
figures are different?
Use the function C(t) to answer these questions.
Estimate the carbon dioxide concentration in 1993.
Predict when the carbon dioxide concentration will reach 400
At what rate is the carbon dioxide concentration increasing?
Until recently, the carbon dioxide concentration stayed at about 280
According to your model, when was the concentration at this level?
When will the concentration reach double that level?
this information. You will use it in part II