There is a well-known issue that scientists have made us all aware of; climate change. In the last 100 years the average global climate has increased by 0.74 degrees. This has led to major changes in our planet, such as warmer summers, faster ice-melt in Polar Regions and increased flooding in areas such as Bangladesh. What has caused this rise? Who is responsible for this?
The Greenhouse Effect
The rise in industry most notably since the 1960s using fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas to generate energy has emitted gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide. Along with water vapour this has created a thick gas layer in our atmosphere, which prevents thermal radiation (from the sun) leaving this atmosphere easily as the energy is absorbed by the high concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases. This raises temperatures down on Earth.
Experiment
We did an experiment to prove this idea. We wanted to see whether an increased carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere really contributes to the rising climate.
Method
Each of the 4 groups had 2 100ml beakers, one with a 'normal' atmosphere (normal everyday gases that surround us) the other containing a high concentration of carbon dioxide. To obtain this particular gas calcium carbonate and sulphuric acid were put together in a conical flask with a pipe that transported the reactant (Co2) to one of the beakers. Each beaker had 70ml of normal tap water at the bottom to act as the 'ocean'. A thermometer was left in each beaker and cling film covered the whole these beakers (to prevent the gases from escaping). Finally a lamp shone over the 2 experiments. We noted the temperature in each beaker every 4 minutes.
Hypothesis: The higher the concentration of Co2, and the longer the time, the higher the temperature will rise.
Independent Variable
This was the Co2 concentration in one beaker.
Dependent Variable
This was the change in temperature of the 2 atmospheres.
Overall both results increase in temperature as the time increases, however they fluctuate. The normal atmosphere fluctuates the most as it decreases dramatically from 10 to 15 seconds by 1 degree. The increased concentration of Co2-experiment increases by 1.5 degrees in 20 minutes, the normal atmosphere increases by 1.75 degrees. Why does the control rise more? This does not follow the hypothesis.
This experiment is not reliable as repeats have not being done for each temperature measurement every 4 minutes. The cling film covering may have not sealed the beakers effectively, and gases may have escaped. This would affect the accuracy of the results. To make the results more precise a digital thermometer should have been used as the smallest changes in temperature would be detected. The results are valid because the variables were controlled.
The Greenhouse Effect
The rise in industry most notably since the 1960s using fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas to generate energy has emitted gases such as methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide. Along with water vapour this has created a thick gas layer in our atmosphere, which prevents thermal radiation (from the sun) leaving this atmosphere easily as the energy is absorbed by the high concentrations of atmospheric greenhouse gases. This raises temperatures down on Earth.
Experiment
We did an experiment to prove this idea. We wanted to see whether an increased carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere really contributes to the rising climate.
Method
Each of the 4 groups had 2 100ml beakers, one with a 'normal' atmosphere (normal everyday gases that surround us) the other containing a high concentration of carbon dioxide. To obtain this particular gas calcium carbonate and sulphuric acid were put together in a conical flask with a pipe that transported the reactant (Co2) to one of the beakers. Each beaker had 70ml of normal tap water at the bottom to act as the 'ocean'. A thermometer was left in each beaker and cling film covered the whole these beakers (to prevent the gases from escaping). Finally a lamp shone over the 2 experiments. We noted the temperature in each beaker every 4 minutes.
Hypothesis: The higher the concentration of Co2, and the longer the time, the higher the temperature will rise.
Independent Variable
This was the Co2 concentration in one beaker.
Dependent Variable
This was the change in temperature of the 2 atmospheres.
Overall both results increase in temperature as the time increases, however they fluctuate. The normal atmosphere fluctuates the most as it decreases dramatically from 10 to 15 seconds by 1 degree. The increased concentration of Co2-experiment increases by 1.5 degrees in 20 minutes, the normal atmosphere increases by 1.75 degrees. Why does the control rise more? This does not follow the hypothesis.
This experiment is not reliable as repeats have not being done for each temperature measurement every 4 minutes. The cling film covering may have not sealed the beakers effectively, and gases may have escaped. This would affect the accuracy of the results. To make the results more precise a digital thermometer should have been used as the smallest changes in temperature would be detected. The results are valid because the variables were controlled.