Carbon Cycle, Global Warming, and Data Interpretation

Vocabulary flashcards covering the carbon cycle, global warming mechanisms, chemical equations, and principles of graphical data interpretation.

Carbon cycle

The movement of carbon between the atmosphere, living things, oceans and land.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use carbon dioxide and water to make glucose and oxygen.

Balanced equation for photosynthesis

$$6CO_2 + 6H_2O \rightarrow C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2$$

Cellular respiration

The process where glucose reacts with oxygen to release energy, producing carbon dioxide and water.

Balanced equation for cellular respiration

$$C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O$$

Methane ($CH_4$)

A greenhouse gas released by cows in addition to carbon dioxide.

Enhanced greenhouse effect

The increase in the greenhouse effect caused by extra greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases

Gases in the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect, such as carbon dioxide and methane.

Fossil fuels

Non-renewable energy sources that release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere when burned and are replaced by nature more slowly than they are used.

Biofuels

A potentially more sustainable energy source made from crops that can be regrown.

Plant-growing season $CO_2$ reduction

The decrease in atmospheric $CO_2$ that occurs because growing plants absorb more $CO_2$ during photosynthesis.

Trend

The general direction in which data changes in a graph.

Positive correlation

A relationship where when one variable increases, the other tends to increase.

Negative correlation

A relationship where when one variable increases, the other tends to decrease.

Fluctuation

A graph behavior where values repeatedly rise and fall.

Overall $CO_2$ trend (Jan 2019 to Oct 2022)

An overall increase in atmospheric $CO_2$ levels, with an approximate difference of $7\,\text{ppm}$ ($422\,\text{ppm} - 415\,\text{ppm}$) between peak levels.

Extinctions between 1900 and 2000

An increase of approximately $24,000$ extinctions ($28,000 - 4,000$), showing a positive correlation with increasing human population.

Graph interpretation principle

Carefully reading the axes, units, dates, and scale, and only making conclusions supported by the data.