Your goal for this activity is to compare the different sources of carbon dioxide emissions, stemming from the consumption of fossil fuels, in Illinois. To do this you will be working with data spanning from 1980 to 2012

O\u27Leary-Driscoll, Sarah

Randall, Crystal

English

Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy: DigitalCommons@IMSA

Illinois Math and Science AcademyDigitalCommons@IMSAEcosystem Disruption & Climate Change Biology20162a: "Illinois Carbon Dioxide Emissions Activity"Sarah O'Leary-DriscollIllinois Mathematics and Science Academy, soleary@imsa.eduCrystal RandallIllinois Mathematics and Science Academy, crandall@imsa.eduFollow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/eco_disruptPart of the Biology Commons, Curriculum and Instruction Commons, and the Science andMathematics Education CommonsThis Activities and Assessments is brought to you for free and open access by the Biology at DigitalCommons@IMSA. It has been accepted forinclusion in Ecosystem Disruption & Climate Change by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@IMSA. For more information, pleasecontact pgarrett@imsa.edu, jean@imsa.edu.Recommended CitationO'Leary-Driscoll, S., & Randall, C. (2016). 2a: "Illinois Carbon Dioxide Emissions Activity".Retrieved from: http://digitalcommons.imsa.edu/eco_disrupt/2Illinois	Carbon	Dioxide	Emissions	Activity		Your	goal	for	this	activity	is	to	compare	the	different	sources	of	carbon	dioxide	emissions,	stemming	from	the	consumption	of	fossil	fuels,	in	Illinois.		To	do	this	you	will	be	working	with	data	spanning	from	1980	to	2012.		To	better	be	able	to	understand	this	data,	and	to	connect	the	data	to	what	you’ve	learned	about	the	carbon	cycle,	you	will	be	constructing	a	series	of	graphs	in	order	to	present	a	visual	representation.			You	will	be	making	a	graph	comparing	the	totals	for	the	main	sources	of	emissions,	including	coal,	petroleum	products,	and	natural	gas.		Instructions	for	the	graph	are	shown	in	this	document	Then	you	will	look	at	each	of	the	sources	more	specifically,	to	see	what	these	emissions	can	be	attributed	when	comparing	residential,	commercial,	industrial,	transportation	related,	and	electric	power	related	usage	of	fossil	fuels.	This	means	that	for	this	part	of	the	analysis	you	should	have	4	graphs	total.	The	data	for	each	is	on	a	separate	tab	in	your	excel	file,	which	can	be	changed	at	the	bottom.		The	last	part	of	this	assignment	is	to	create	your	own	analysis.			Pick	a	comparison	that	you	have	not	made	already.		An	example	would	be	comparing	the	emissions	due	to	coal,	petroleum	products,	and	natural	gas	for	the	transportation	related	sources,	to	see	which	affects	the	emissions	from	transportation	the	most.		To	do	this	you	would	have	to	copy	and	paste	the	data	for	transportation	from	each	of	the	three	tabs	(coal,	petroleum,	and	natural	gas)	into	the	“Your	analysis”	tab,	and	create	another	graph.		This	will	bring	your	total	graphs	up	to	five.		Once	you	have	copied	and	pasted	all	of	your	graphs	into	a	word	document,	examine	your	data	and,	underneath	each	graph,	write	up	a	paragraph	that	addresses	the	following	(as	appropriate	to	the	variables	for	each	graph).		1. 	What	had	the	highest	level	of	carbon	dioxide	emissions	of	the	variables	included?		Was	it	consistent,	or	did	the	“top	producer”	change	over	time?	2. What	trends	are	seen	in	the	data?		Was	there	a	steady	change?	A	lot	of	variability?		What	does	that	tell	you	about	that	particular	use	of	fossil	fuels?		3. Were	fossil	fuels	used	in	this	way	(i.e.	coal,	petroleum	products),	thus	producing	more	carbon	dioxide,	for	one	purpose	more	than	others	(i.e.	residential	living,	transportation,	etc)?		What	used	them	in	this	way	the	least?			Then,	at	the	end	of	your	document,	draw	connections	between	all	of	your	analysis.		Write	up	an	explanation	of	why	the	data	you	collected	is	important,	when	considering	how	we	understand	the	use	of	fossil	fuels	and	the	impact	of	these	uses	on	carbon	dioxide	emission.		Be	sure	to	explain	how	the	use	of	fossil	fuels	fits	into,	and	impacts,	the	carbon	cycle.			Also	address	how	might	this	understanding	also	help	as	we	try	to	decrease	carbon	dioxide	emissions	in	the	future?	Is	there	a	specific	source	that	we,	as	a	society,	should	focus	on,	based	on	the	data	that	you	see?			Note	that	the	instructions	here	are	from	Excel	2010,	but	you	may	use	any	other	graphing	software	that	you	have	available.		We’d	suggest	talking	with	us	and	using	google	to	find	sources	for	instructions	if	you	are	not	familiar	with	the	program	you	are	trying	to	use.		Instructions	for	graph	of	totals	:		1. When	you	open	your	excel	document,	be	sure	that	the	tab	at	the	bottom	for	“totals”	is	selected	first.	(the	coal	tab	is	selected	in	the	example	below)		 	2. Once	you	have	that	tab	open,	select	the	data	by	highlighting	the	numbers	on	the	side	of	the	rows	representing	the	years,	coal,	petroleum	products,	and	natural	gas.	This	should	highlight	the	whole	row	for	each.				3. Once	the	data	for	these	four	rows	is	highlighted,	at	the	top	of	the	screen	go	to	the	“Insert”	tab,	and	then	click	on	the	box	for	line	graph.		4. In	the	drop	down	menu,	pick	the	first	2-D	option	for	a	line	graph.						5. Once	your	graph	pops	up,	you	will	need	to	format	it	so	that	the	axes	are	labeled.	You	can	use	the	options	in	“Chart	tools”	when	you	have	your	chart	selected	to	format	the	Axis	titles.			6. Once	you	have	completed	your	graph,	copy	and	paste	it	into	a	word	document.	Then,	repeat	for	your	other	three	graphs,	as	well	as	your	own	analysis.		

2a:  Illinois Carbon Dioxide Emissions Activity

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2a: Illinois Carbon Dioxide Emissions Activity

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