Inconvenient truth focus questions

Inconvenient Truth Focus Questions Self Check Key

1) Does science discover new information or does it refine, change and extend the information that is already present? Explain.
Although some science is classified as new, most work in science refines, changes and extends information that is already present as was exhibited in the case of global warming and rising yearlytemperatures.

2) What is the most vulnerable part of the Earth’s ecosystem?
The atmosphere.

3) What chemical does this movie say it is vulnerable to?
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

4) What type of reaction produces this chemical? Give an example.
Combustion – 2 C8H18 + 25 O2 ( 16 CO2 + 18 H20

5) How long have we been studying CO2 concentrations inthe atmosphere?
Since about 1958. Almost 50 years.

6) How far back in time can we measure CO2 concentrations?
1000 years in certain ice cores and 650,000 years in Antarctica Ice cores using isotopes of oxygen.

7) What is happening to our glaciers over the last 30 years and why is it a problem for 40% of the people in the world?
They have been meltingand as a result 40% of people will run out of a fresh water supply.

8) How does temperature over time relate to CO2 concentration?
Increased CO2 Concentration always results in increased global temperatures.

9) What is ppm?
Parts per million – it is how CO2 and other chemicals are measured (example 300 ppm).

10) Is our atmospheric CO2 concentration withinnormal cyclical limits? Explain.
No, it is way above 300 ppm and is much above the cyclical highs and lows shown prior to the industrial revolution.

11) Is this a political, moral or spiritual issue? Justify your answer.
One could argue it is all three. Political as we need political solutions, moral as we have a moral responsibility to our future generations ofpeople, plants and animals and spiritual as we have an obligations to be “keepers” of the Earth.

12) When were the last 10 hottest years in history?
The last 10 hottest years were all since 1994.

13) Is this a political movie? Is this a science movie? Is science political? Explain.
It has both a political message and a science message. Yes science is political aspolitics and policy drive research, technology and its use.

14) How do you think global warming will affect the ecosystem in Saskatchewan?
Longer, dryer summers from what I have read.

15) How quickly does the movie say that we can go from our current weather patterns to an ice age?
In as little as 10 years.

16) How many graphs (and hence scientific studiesdoes the movie use to prove the existence of global warming? 2, 10, or lots and lots and lots?
Lots and lots and lots.

17) How many millions of people (roughly) would be displaced if Greenland melted?
Over 100,000,000 people.

18) What is the difference between a want and a need? Have some of our past wants grown into what society now calls needs?
Awant is something one doesn’t need to survive (opinion). Yes, an example is the automobile. It was once thought that every family needed A car. Families wanted several cars but couldn’t afford them. Now families will argue that they NEED several cars.

19) Is this a USA/China problem? Where is Canada in comparison to the USA in terms of CO2 production per person?
No, this is aglobal problem. Canada is almost as bad as the USA in terms of CO2 production. (As of 2003, Canada 17.9 tones per person, USA 19.8 tones per person)

20) What are two of the larger human factors that lead to us having a CO2 problem?
One is population and the other is the scientific and technological revolution which includes things like war, cars, oil and industry.

21) How...