What is the fate of CO2 produced by fossil fuel combustion?

Paul Quay, University of Washington

This activity has benefited from input from a review and suggestion process as a part of an activity development workshop.

Hide

This activity has benefited from input from a review and suggestion process as a part of an activity development workshop.

This activity has benefited from input from faculty educators beyond the author through a review and suggestion process as a part of an activity development workshop. Workshop participants were asked to peruse activities submitted by others in their disciplinary group prior to the workshop. The groups then convened early in the workshop to discuss the materials and make suggestions for improvements. To learn more about this review process, see http://serc.carleton.edu/quantskills/review_processes.html#2004.

This page first made public: Oct 23, 2009

Summary

The carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere is increasing as a result of combustion of fossil fuels. However, the observed atmospheric CO₂ increase rate is only ~60% of the CO₂ loading rate due to fossil fuel combustion. Why? We will answer this question using a box-model to simulate the earth's carbon cycle. The model will hindcast the atmospheric CO₂ increase during the industrial era and compare it to the historic observations of atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. The model will then be used to forecast future concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ during the next century.

Learning Goals

To demonstrate, using a climate-change relevant issue, the utility of simple box models to quantitatively address problems in earth sciences.
To demonstrate the use of a spreadsheet to construct box models.
To use models to demonstrate the concept of steady-state and time rate of change.
To examine the sensitivity of model predictions to model input.
To provide an opportunity for model versus data comparison.
To give students an estimate of the changes in atmospheric CO2 concentrations that occurred over the last century and might occur over the next century.

Context for Use

This model-based problem was used in an upper division class "Climatic Extremes" for science majors. This specific problem was given mid-way through the semester after the students had brief experience formulating 1 or 2 box models using Excel (or Matlab). Time given for solution was 1-2 weeks, depending on other class responsibilities.

Description and Teaching Materials

Activity Background (Microsoft Word 392kB Jul29 04)
Activity Exercise (Microsoft Word 123kB Jul29 04)

Teaching Notes and Tips

Teaching Tips-

Typical modeling problems
Possible follow up exercise
Assign this exercise at your own risk and, preferably, if tenured.

Assessment

The students turn in an Excel spreadsheet that has the tabular data and charts of the plotted atmospheric CO2 concentrations versus time for each scenario.

References and Resources

Sarmiento, J. and N. Gruber (2002) . Sinks for Anthropogenic Carbon. Physics Today, 55(8), p.30. - This article provides excellent background for this modeling activity. The figures that appear in this activity are taken from this paper.

See more Activities »

« Using a mass balance model to understand carbon dioxide and its connection to global warming Atmospheric vertical structure and the First Law of Thermodynamics »