Visualizing Environmental Science

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1
0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

9000

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010
Year

Total annual CO

emissions 2

(million metric tons)

United States

Brazil

China

India

0

5

10

15

20

25

Year

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2010

Brazil

China

India

United States

Per capita CO

emissions 2

(metric tons per person)

Based on data from the United Nations Statistics Division, Millennium
Development Goals Indicators.

b.

a.

Critical and Creative Thinking Questions 241


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NG Maps –100



✓✓THE PLANNER


Sustainable Citizen Question


  1. Distinguish between the benefits of the ozone layer in the
    stratosphere and the harmful effects of ozone at ground
    level.

  2. What is the Montreal Protocol, and what environmental
    problem is it designed to correct?

  3. Discuss some of the possible causes of forest decline.
    How might these factors interact to speed the
    rate of decline?


8–10. This map shows one model of how warmer global
temperatures might alter precipitation in the United States
in the next 100 years. Colors indicate the percent change in
annual precipitation per century.



  1. Name three states with climates that may become
    significantly wetter. Name three states with climates that
    may become significantly drier. Explain your answer.

  2. Locate the state where you live. Will it be wetter, drier, or
    about the same?

  3. In what ways might the projected changes in precipitation
    in the next 100 years impact U.S. agriculture? the U.S.
    economy?`


££° Consider the figures below, which depict total annual
CO 2 production and per person CO 2 production for the
United States, China, India, and Brazil over the past 30
years. Some people argue that China and India have
the biggest responsibility to cut emissions, because
they represent the greatest long–term emissions
sources. Others argue that because the United
States has such high per person emissions, it bears
the greatest responsibility. Which, if either, of these
arguments do you find more compelling? Why? Does
the historically low total and per person emissions from
countries like Brazil affect your decision?
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