Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere

• CO2 is emitted in the atmosphere in many ways– Naturally carbon cycle, volcanic outgassing, – Human activities burning fossil fuels

• CO2 needed for– sustaining life on Earth– controlling the Earth's climate by trapping heat in the

atmosphere– essential to photosynthesis in plants and other

photoautotrophs– a prominent greenhouse gas

Each year, CO2 Emission Increases…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Global_Carbon_Emissions.svg

• Annual fluctuation of about 3–9 ppmv which roughly follows the Northern Hemisphere's growing season

• 2009 average global CO2 concentration≈ 0.0387% 387 parts per million by volume (ppmv)

• Resultcarbon dioxide has gradually accumulated in the atmosphere & its concentration is 39% above pre-industrial levels (2009)

Rates & Increases

Greenhouse Gas Remediation Projects

• Objective Remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, and thus tackle the root cause of global warming

• Offer comprehensive solution• Will take many years• Overlap with carbon capture/ CO2removal and

carbon sequestation projects

Techniques include…

• Ocean nourishment– Eg. Iron fertilisation of the oceans

• Creating biochar (anaerobic charcoal) and burying it to create terra preta

• Bio-energy with carbon capture and storage• Carbon air capture to remove carbon dioxide

from ambient air

Carbon Dioxide Removal

• The removal of CO2 from ambient air by carbon dioxide scrubbing

• Regarded as greenhouse gas remediation, which is a branch of geoengineering

• Proposed methods include:– Planting artificial trees– Build “scrubbing towers” ≈ filter towers– Quicklime process calcium oxide

Carbon Dioxide Scrubbing Lab

Objective:

To see if the carbon dioxide produced by the marble and hydrochloric acid solution will be absorbed by the potassium hydroxide solution by observing the change in pH level using the universal indicator.

Materials

• Marble• Spoon• Test tube• U-tube• 2 test tube corks with tube connected (that fits the test

tube and the U-tube)• 2 test tube clamps• 2 graduated cylinders• 50mL potassium hydroxide solution• 10 drops universal indicator• 10mL hydrochloric acid

Procedure

1. Pour a ½ spoon full of marble into a test tube and hold it on a clamp.2. In a U-tube, pour in 50mL of the potassium hydroxide solution3. Add 10 drops of universal indicator into #2 and make sure the indicator

gets mixed in thoroughly and hold the U-tube on another clamp.4. Take note of the colour if the potassium hydroxide solution and its pH

level.5. Plug the one of the corks that are connected by a tube with one opening

of the U-tube. 6. Pour 10mL of hydrochloric acid into the test tube with the marble and

quickly plug the other connected cork in this test tube.7. Make close observations of the reactions that are made and the changes

in colour of the potassium hydroxide solution.

Carbon Dioxide Scrubbing Lab Video

**Speed is fast-forwarded (150%)

Results

After mixing:Colour= yellowpH level≈ 6 (neutral)

In the beginning:Colour= bluepH level≈ 12 (alkali/basic)

http://teamstudent.com/2010/08/15/a-first-hand-investigation-to-prepare-and-test-a-natural-indicator/

Discussion for Chemistry Lab

Chemical Equation:

CO2 2KOH K2CO3 H2OBASIC NEUTRAL

CO2 H2O H2CO3WEAK ACID

This shows that the CO2 is reduced since it is absorbed and neutralized.

Arctic Geoengineering

• Temperature in Arctic increase rapidly• Prevent Arctic ice loss– Building thicker ice• More resistant to melting• Freezing takes place much

more rapidly on the to (Insulator)

Procedure

3.

1. 2.

4.

Physics experiment

•Asphalt has more heat capacity.•Also color (Jens’s experiment)

5min 10min

Sand 22 36

Asphalt 42 49

Results

Self-ReflectionsThings we did well- Constant communication with eachother- Let others know when there was communication- Divided work fairly, each did our fair part- Three expirements, one for each subject

Possible Improvements- Weren’t able to meet our own soft deadlines- We could of gave more feedback and helped each other

concerning the sources - Should have had more skype converstations instead of the

wiki- Better communication than by posting on wiki- Less confusing

Sources