Week 4 Lab

1. Identify natural and human-made causes of climate change visible in the computer simulation. According to the computer model, how have sources of heat-trapping pollution changed from 1750 to today? How does the simulation predict they will change by 2050? Natural causes of climate change within the model are livestock (cows) producing methane gas. Human-made causes that can be seen are deforestation for crops, homes, and businesses. Pollution from cars and planes realeases CO2 into the air and the use of electricty to run the homes and businesses creates greenhouse gases. From 1775 till today, cars and planes have been created and contribute to green house gas production. The population has increase and more crops and homes have been built. Oil drilling and cration of factories and power plants have also been added to our world since 1775. The module predits that our population will double and their will be even more green house gases being trapped by our ozone layer.

2. According to the computer model and your readings, which source(s) of heat-trapping pollution contribute the most to climate change? Explain. According to the model and other readings, carbon dioxide contributes the most pollution resulting in climate change. CO2 has always been in the atmosphere naturally to allow for some heat to be reflected, but with the creation of cars, planes and other fossil fuel reliant items, such as electricity, the amount of CO2 produced has increased and its relfecting for sunlight back onto earth and releasing less. Deforestation also has contributed to the CO2 increase. When trees are burned, the carbon they store within them is released. The more CO2 relaeased allows for more CO2 to become trapped in the oxzone allowing more heat reflection , increasing temperature.