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Food & Climate

Worksheet: Predicting the future

Sheet 2: The influence of CO₂ on plants and climate

1. Exercise

Chemical processes influence the processes in our atmosphere and our climate.

As you have read in the text „What are the effects of climate change on plants?“ the concentration of CO₂ constantly rises. CO₂ is a gas, which causes damage to our climate if the CO₂ concentration is too high. It also changes the conditions for plants an vegetation. On the other hand CO₂ also has a positive impact on plants as photosynthesis is advanced.

To find out more about the gas CO₂, you can surf the internet. A collection of links concerning the topic CO₂ and climate change you find in our linklist.

Can you answer the following questions?

1) The chemical formula CO₂ is an abbreviation for ...

a) nitrogen oxide
b) carbon
c) carbon monoxide
d) carbon dioxide

2) How high was the CO₂concentration of the air around 1900?

a) 240 ppm (parts per million)
b) 300 ppm
c) 370 ppm
d) 420 ppm

3) How high is the CO₂concentration in the air?

a) 240 ppm
b) 300 ppm
c) 370 ppm
d) 420 ppm

4) How is CO₂ metabolized?

a) by the photosythesesis of plants
b) by biodiesel
c) by catalysts
d) by fast driving with cars

5) How does CO₂ have influence on our climate?

a) Due to the CO₂ concentration there are less precipitations world wide.
b) Due to a higher concenctration of CO₂ there might be snow and frost at the equator.
c) Due to a higher concenctration of CO₂ there will be a global warming.
d) Due to a higher concenctration of CO₂ there will be a global cooling.

6) What arises from the photosynthesis under the influence of light?

a) glucose
b) water
c) nitrogen
d) carbon dioxide

7) How can CO₂ emissions be reduced or prevented?

a) Travel by planes instead of cars.
b) Heat flats and houses by oil only.
c) Make use of more energy.
d) Win energy by using solar techniques.

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2. Exercise

Due to the consumption of energy and the heating of private households the emission of CO₂ is increased.

Ask your parents how much energy is needed in your household (for heating oil, natural gas, petrol, electric current).

Then calculate the amount of CO₂ being emitted with the help of the following formula:

1. Heating oil Formula:

_____________ litre/year ∙ 0,0027 = _____________ t CO₂/year

2. Natural gas Formula:

_____________ m³/year ∙ 0,0002 = ______________t CO₂/year

3. Petrol/diesel Formula:

____ km/year ∙ ____ litre/100 km ∙ 0,000027 = ____ t CO₂/year

4. Electric current Formula:

____________ kWh/year ∙ 0,00069 = _________ t CO₂/year

5. Kerosene Formula:

____________ km/year ∙ 0,00025 = _________ t CO₂/year

Now print out the following worksheet and calculate the CO₂ consumption!

Clipart courtesy by Hemera - Big box of art

4. Linklist

CO₂ and climatic change:

http://www.co2science.org/center.htm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/climatechange

Calculation of CO2 emission

http://www.co2.org/calculator/index.cfm
http://www3.iclei.org/co2/co2calc.htm

About this page:

- Author: B. Wohlhöfer - University of Nürnberg - Germany
- scientific reviewing:
- educational reviewing: Dr. Schrettenbrunner / J. Heres
- last update: 17.12.03