Model/Simulator: Modeling Earth’s Carbon

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A model/simulator to learn about the carbon cycle and carbon dioxide projections based on the observed CO2 concentrations from Land, Ocean and Atmospheric reservoirs.  The model includes four RCP scenarios based of fossil fuel emissions:

  1. Business as usual
  2. Slower Growth
  3. Big Reductions
  4. Very Aggressive

Students can simulate future carbon dioxide concentration, surface temperature, ocean surface pH and carbon fluxes through the use of this model. They will learn to calculate the projections based on various future scenarios for reservoirs of anthropogenic carbon.

Mathematics/Statistics teachers can use this resource to teach their students about models and the use of climate data to create models.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to:

  1. What is a carbon cycle? How does atmospheric CO2 impact land and ocean carbon concentration?
  2. Define the ‘business-as-usual’ scenario in the model.
  3. Based on the past projections, what will be the average surface temperature in each RCP scenario?

About the Tool

Tool NameEarth[carbon]
DisciplineEarth Sciences, Mathematic and Statistics 
Topic(s) in DisciplineCarbon Cycle, Atmospheric CO2, Surface Ocean pH, RCP Scenarios, Anthropogenic Carbon, CO2 emissions, Data Analysis, Statiscal Methods, Modelling, Data Projections
Climate TopicClimate Variability Record
Type of toolModel/Simulator
Grade LevelUndergraduate
LocationGlobal
LanguageEnglish
Translation
Developed bybiocycle.atmos.colostate.edu
Hosted atbiocycle.atmos.colostate.edu
LinkLink
AccessOnline, Offline
Computer SkillsBasic
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