SeaWiFS The Meaning of Ocean Color The Role of Phytoplankton The Carbon Absorbing Oceans

The Carbon Cycle How do phytoplankton control carbon? How do the ocean and atmosphere interact? Make a Greenhouse View the Carbon Cycle Make a Greenhouse Materials needed: Two cardboard shoe boxes Clear plastic wrap Two regular "weather type" thermometers Desk light with 75 watt or larger bulb Procedure: Place some paper towels loosely in the bottom of each shoe box, then lay the thermometer on the towels. Cover the open top of one box with plastic wrap, taped to the side of the box; leave the other box with the top off (open). Place the boxes side by side, and move the desk light so it shines evenly into both boxes. Record the temperature in each box every minute for 10 minutes. Plot the temperatures on a graph with time as the "x" (horizontal) axis and temperature as the "y,' (vertical) axis. Analysis: Discuss the differences you see in the observed temperatures in the two boxes, and why this is happening. Variation: Try replacing the paper towels in each box with black paper. Repeat the experiment. What differences do you note?

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