Page 74 - Big Ideas Year 10 sciPAD 2025

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74 SCIPAD - BIG IDEAS - BOOK 2
FUELS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere - The Keeling Curve
About 60 years ago, a researcher by the name of Dave
Keeling began taking ultra-precise measurements of
the amount of CO2 in our atmosphere. Carbon dioxide
is measured in parts per milllion by volume, or ppmv. He
chose to take his measurements at the top of Mauna
Loa, a volcano located on the isolated islands of
Hawaii. These measurements are still being carried out
by researchers at the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
1. Using the tables below, plot two line graphs on
the opposite page. The axis labels have been
done for you.
2. Complete the questions on the following page
THIS SECTION HAS BEEN DELIBERATELY LEFT BLANK
Hawaii
Mauna Loa
Maui
Molokai
Oahu
Kauai Hawaiian Islands
Location of the
Hawaii Islands
showing Mauna Loa
Year Maximum CO2 concentration
(ppmv)
1960 320
1965 325
1970 330
1975 335
1980 342
1985 352
1990 362
1995 372
2000 380
2005 386
2010 392
2015 401
2020 415
Year Temperature (˚C)
1900 13.5
1910 13.7
1920 13.8
1930 13.9
1940 14.0
1950 14.0
1960 14.1
1970 14.1
1980 14.2
1990 14.4
2000 14.5
2010 14.6
2020 14.7
Earth’s Average Surface Temperature
Average Annual CO2 Concentration in the Atmosphere
Source: GISS (Goddard Institute for Space Studies).
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