Question

if the rate of carbon dioxide concentration remains the same as from 2000 to 2015, what can we expect the co2 concentration to be in the year 2025? a 410 ppm b 420 ppm c 430 ppm

Explanation:

Step1: Determine the time - period and change rate

From 2000 to 2015, the time - period $\Delta t=2015 - 2000 = 15$ years. Let's assume we can estimate the change in CO₂ concentration over this period to predict for 2025.

Step2: Estimate the change in CO₂ concentration from the graph

By observing the graph, in 2000, the CO₂ concentration is around 370 ppm, and in 2015, it is around 400 ppm. The change in concentration $\Delta C=400 - 370=30$ ppm in 15 years. So the average rate of change $r=\frac{\Delta C}{\Delta t}=\frac{30}{15}=2$ ppm per year.

Step3: Predict the concentration in 2025

From 2015 to 2025, $\Delta t_{new}=2025 - 2015 = 10$ years. Using the rate $r = 2$ ppm per year, the increase in concentration $\Delta C_{new}=r\times\Delta t_{new}=2\times10 = 20$ ppm. Since the concentration in 2015 is around 400 ppm, the predicted concentration in 2025 is $C = 400+20=420$ ppm.

Answer:

B. 420 ppm