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Test:ACT Science
Global warming is defined as the slow increase in the temperature of the earth’s atmosphere and is caused by pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO2). While the gradual increase in temperature cannot be refuted, scientists argue over the cause.
Scientist 1:
Global warming is caused by increases in atmospheric CO2, which is directly created by humans and their consumption of fossil fuels. The natural CO2released from carbon sinks has a different isotopic ratio from the CO2released from fossil fuels. Current measurements of the radioactive isotopes of CO2show that it is from human activity, not from nature. The Earth’s carbon sinks cannot absorb these large amounts of unnatural CO2emissions. About fifty percent of the CO2produced by mankind remains in the atmosphere, unable to be absorbed.
Scientist 2:
The rise in atmospheric CO2levels are a result of global warming, not the cause of it. When the temperature increases, the CO2in carbon sinks is released. While humans do cause release of CO2, the carbon sinks absorb it. The activity of the carbon sinks increases to allow for higher levels of CO2absorption. Proponents for human causation of global warming point to the warming and cooling of the stratosphere, however, these temperature fluctuations are caused by changes in the sun’s heat. These proponents also look at the acidity of the ocean as evidence of human causation, however, the rise in ocean acidity is within the normal range of fluctuations over the past ten thousand years.
| 1. |
What new evidence would support the argument made by Scientist 1? |
An experiment suggesting the ocean acidity level fluctuates with atmospheric temperature changes
An experiment suggesting that 13% of CO2remaining in the atmosphere is the isotopic CO2caused by humans
An experiment suggesting the ocean acidity level has an impact on the atmospheric temperature changes
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