Theme C - Interaction & Interdependence
Unlocking The Keeling Curve’s Secrets!
Table of content
Introduction 🌿
Imagine you're on vacation in sunny Hawaii. Between sipping your pineapple juice and dipping your feet in the water, you notice a research observatory on Mauna Loa mountain. What's going on there? Let's dive into it!
The Keeling Curve 101 📈
-
Origin: Since 1959, the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii has been measuring atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The results? A graph known as the Keeling Curve.
Cool Fact: It's named after the scientist Charles Keeling, who started this project! -
Two Main Trends on the Keeling Curve
- Annual fluctuations
- CO2 concentration increases between October and May.
- CO2 concentration decreases from May to October.
- Why? It's all about the balance between photosynthesis (plants converting CO2 into glucose and oxygen) and respiration (organisms releasing CO2 as they breathe).
🌱 Fun Fact: During the northern hemisphere's summer, plants are partying hard! It's their prime growth season, leading to higher photosynthesis rates.
- Long-term trend
- Even though CO2 levels dip every year, they never go back to where they started. Why? They’re continuously on the rise!
- Main Culprit: Human activities, especially burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. Oh, and don't forget the big role deforestation plays in this. 🌲🔥
- Annual fluctuations
The Power of Databases in Understanding CO2 💾
- NOAA Global Monitoring Earth Research Labs: Contains data from 90+ monitoring stations measuring atmospheric CO2.
- Gapminder database: Ever wondered which country has the densest forest? This database reveals forest biomass data over time across the globe.
- UN REDD+ database: Shows forest cover by country.
🔍 Inquiry Corner: Put on your detective hat!
- Temperate Forest Cover & CO2: Could forest cover near a testing station impact CO2 fluctuations? How about other factors like land mass differences between hemispheres, seasonal temperatures, or even volcanic eruptions? Dive into the databases and see what you find!
- Forest & CO2 Relationship: Are there other patterns between forest variables and atmospheric CO2 levels? Challenge yourself to test some hypotheses using these databases!
Unlock the Full Content! 
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Biology HL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟
Theme C - Interaction & Interdependence
Unlocking The Keeling Curve’s Secrets!
Table of content
Introduction 🌿
Imagine you're on vacation in sunny Hawaii. Between sipping your pineapple juice and dipping your feet in the water, you notice a research observatory on Mauna Loa mountain. What's going on there? Let's dive into it!
The Keeling Curve 101 📈
-
Origin: Since 1959, the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii has been measuring atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). The results? A graph known as the Keeling Curve.
Cool Fact: It's named after the scientist Charles Keeling, who started this project! -
Two Main Trends on the Keeling Curve
- Annual fluctuations
- CO2 concentration increases between October and May.
- CO2 concentration decreases from May to October.
- Why? It's all about the balance between photosynthesis (plants converting CO2 into glucose and oxygen) and respiration (organisms releasing CO2 as they breathe).
🌱 Fun Fact: During the northern hemisphere's summer, plants are partying hard! It's their prime growth season, leading to higher photosynthesis rates.
- Long-term trend
- Even though CO2 levels dip every year, they never go back to where they started. Why? They’re continuously on the rise!
- Main Culprit: Human activities, especially burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. Oh, and don't forget the big role deforestation plays in this. 🌲🔥
- Annual fluctuations
The Power of Databases in Understanding CO2 💾
- NOAA Global Monitoring Earth Research Labs: Contains data from 90+ monitoring stations measuring atmospheric CO2.
- Gapminder database: Ever wondered which country has the densest forest? This database reveals forest biomass data over time across the globe.
- UN REDD+ database: Shows forest cover by country.
🔍 Inquiry Corner: Put on your detective hat!
- Temperate Forest Cover & CO2: Could forest cover near a testing station impact CO2 fluctuations? How about other factors like land mass differences between hemispheres, seasonal temperatures, or even volcanic eruptions? Dive into the databases and see what you find!
- Forest & CO2 Relationship: Are there other patterns between forest variables and atmospheric CO2 levels? Challenge yourself to test some hypotheses using these databases!
Unlock the Full Content!
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Biology HL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟