You are here
Home ›OCO-2 Launch - Why Study Carbon Dioxide?
Created by Morgan Woroner Last updated 7/3/2014
Scheduled to launch on July 1, 2014, Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 will map carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere from space. But why do we study carbon dioxide at all? These resources help to answer that question.
Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 Website
This website contains information about the OCO-2 mission, including imagery of the satellite and information on how it will study carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere.A Clearer View of Hazy Skies : NASA Earth Observatory
This recent article from NASA's Earth Observatory covers the study of Earth's atmosphere using remote sensing, and provides imagery of pollution visible from space.NASA Images Highlight U.S. Air Quality Improvement
This recent article covers new NASA satellite images illustrating the reduction of air pollution in the United States between 2005 and 2011.How Many Scientists Does it Take to Launch a NASA Satellite into Space?
This blog post covers the hows of launching a NASA mission into space, as well as some interesting facts about OCO-2 and carbon dioxide.Making a Gas You Can See
Demo (Elementary): A balloon with baking soda is stretched over the mouth of a bottle containing vinegar. When the baking soda is tipped into the balloon, the reaction creates carbon dioxide, causing the balloon to inflate.AAAS Benchmarks: 4B/E4Climate Kids: Planet Health Report: AIR
Article (Elementary / Middle School): Students learn about the units of measurement used when studying concentrations of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere and why we study this gas in the first place.AAAS Benchmarks: 4B/M15Climate Kids: Gallery of Air
Imagery (Elementary / Middle School): This series of images shows sources, causes and results of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions.AAAS Benchmarks: 8C/M11Climate Kids: The Climate Time Machine
Activity (Elementary / Middle School): This online interactive allows students to see changes in Earth's climate over time.NASA Satellite Sees Carbon Dioxide
Problem Set (Middle School): Students will analyze a map of atmospheric carbon dioxide derived from satellite data.Carbon Production in the US 2002-39
Problem Set (Middle School): Students will analyze an image of carbon dioxide emissions in the continental U.S. in a given year to answer a series of questions.AAAS Benchmarks: 2C/M1Earth's Carbon Metabolism-Revealed
Problem Set (Middle School): Students will use a map of satellite data of Earth's carbon "metabolism" to answer a series of questions about carbon removal.Carbon Dioxide Changes During the Last 400,000 years
Problem Set (Middle School): Students are asked to analyze a graph of carbon dioxide concentration in the last 400,000 years and consider the rise in carbon dioxide over the last 150 years.Carbon Dioxide Increases
Problem Set (Gr. 6-9): Students are asked to analyze carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere since 1985.What's So Special About CO²?
Reading (High School): In this textbook chapter, students review concepts of matter and energy as a precursor to understand how carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere.How Is Carbon Dioxide Measured?
Reading (High School): In this textbook chapter, students learn more about scientists studying carbon dioxide and the techniques they use to gather data. Links are included to video interviews.AAAS Benchmarks: 1B/M1bHow is the Atmosphere Changing?
Reading (High School): In this textbook chapter, students learn about carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and how historical data present evidence that human sources have contributed to an increase in CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere.AAAS Benchmarks: 4B/M15What Are the Human-Caused Sources of Carbon Dioxide?
Activity (High School): Through a digital interactive, students identify human sources of carbon dioxide and their contribution to carbon enrichment of the atmosphere.Why Do Some Molecules Absorb Infrared Energy?
Activity (High School): Students are invited to make structural models of gas molecules and test their molecules for resonant frequency.AAAS Benchmarks: 4D/M1cdHeat Trappers, Inc
Activity (High School): Teams of students are challenged with engineering a greenhouse heat trap for use with exotic plants.AAAS Benchmarks: 4B/H4Sampling Carbon Dioxide
Lab (High School): Student teams hypothesize which source has a greater CO2 concentration, and test samples from each source while plotting data.Recent Events: a Perspective on Carbon Dioxide
Problem Set (High School): Students will compare the carbon dioxide produced as a result of the Eyjafjalla Volcano eruption and burning of oil from the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.MY NASA DATA: A Case Study of Local Trends in the Carbon Cycle
Activity (Gr. 10-12): Students will examine the relationship between carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and chlorophyll-a measurements in a watershed, using Excel plots created using NASA data.Know Your Earth Carbon Quiz
Earth has many processes that regulate carbon, atmospheric carbon dioxide and its role in the carbon cycle and climate. How much do you know? Find out, with this 10-question online quiz!
External resources were not reviewed by NASA Wavelength, there is no explicit or implicit NASA endorsement of goods or services related to these resources.