Final answer:
Rising CO2 concentrations correlate with increased global temperatures, evidencing the greenhouse effect and the reality of climate change. Higher CO2 in the Northern Hemisphere is due to more landmass and industrial activity. Questions regarding temperature adaptation mechanisms and improving CO2 concentration models could enhance predictions about future climate impacts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Analyzing Global Temperatures and CO2 Concentrations
When analyzing data on observed global temperatures and CO2 concentrations, there is a clear claim that can be made: as atmospheric levels of CO2 rise, so do global temperatures. Since 1950, CO2 concentrations have increased from about 280 parts per million (ppm) to 392 ppm in 2011. This rise in CO2 correlates with an increase in global temperatures, illustrating the greenhouse effect, whereby greenhouse gases trap heat within the atmosphere, leading to global warming.
CO2 concentrations are generally higher in the Northern Hemisphere because it holds most of Earth's landmass including highly industrialized countries, resulting in greater fossil fuel combustion. It's crucial to be concerned about climate change on a global scale because it affects biodiversity, weather patterns, sea levels, and could result in adverse health effects on humanity. Moreover, predictions based on the correlation between Earth's temperature and CO2 suggest adverse future impacts on animal populations, with possible extinctions and shifts in habitats.
Questions for Further Scientific Inquiry
What are the mechanisms that control how temperature adapts to rising CO2?
How can models of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations be improved to more accurately predict temperature changes?
Predicting the rise in Earth's temperature by measuring greenhouse gases in the current atmosphere, as well as using dendrochronology (the study of tree rings), are methods to map climactic changes over time. This is essential to provide historical evidence of Earth's past climate due to our inability to directly measure ancient climatic variables.