In the Northern Hemisphere, climate scientists observe seasonal changes in carbon dioxide concentration with the highest levels measured in May and the lowest levels measured in October. Hypothesize how photosynthesis can affect these changes. Explain your answer in three to five sentences.

Question

In the Northern Hemisphere, climate scientists observe seasonal changes in carbon dioxide concentration with the highest levels measured in May and the lowest levels measured in October. Hypothesize how photosynthesis can affect these changes. Explain your answer in three to five sentences.

(Remember: 1. Leaves, in the Northern Hemisphere, appear on trees in the Spring and fall from trees in the Autumn. 2. Leaves are where photosynthesis occurs. 3. How does
photosynthesis effect carbon dioxide?)

Answer 1

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose and release oxygen. During the spring and summer months, when leaves appear on trees, there is an abundance of green foliage actively performing photosynthesis. This means that there is a high demand for carbon dioxide. As a result, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere decrease. Conversely, in the fall, leaves start to fall from trees, reducing the surface area available for photosynthesis. This leads to a decrease in photosynthesis activity and a buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Thus, photosynthesis directly affects the seasonal changes in carbon dioxide concentration in the Northern Hemisphere.

Answer 2

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen and glucose, using sunlight as the energy source. In the Northern Hemisphere, leaves appear on trees in the Spring and fall in the Autumn. During the Spring and Summer months, when leaves are abundant, photosynthesis rates are high. This means that more carbon dioxide is being absorbed by plants and converted into oxygen and glucose, leading to a decrease in atmospheric CO2 levels. However, in the Autumn and Winter months, when leaves fall, photosynthesis rates decrease, resulting in less CO2 being removed from the atmosphere. This explains why the highest levels of CO2 are measured in May (after a decrease in photosynthesis during the Winter) and the lowest levels are measured in October (after a period of intense photosynthesis during the Summer).

Answer 3

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose (a form of sugar) and oxygen. In the Northern Hemisphere, as spring arrives, the increasing amount of sunlight triggers the growth of leaves on trees. The leaves then engage in photosynthesis, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and converting it into glucose. This uptake of carbon dioxide by trees during photosynthesis leads to a decrease in its concentration in the atmosphere, resulting in lower levels of carbon dioxide measured in May. During autumn, as the days get shorter and colder, trees shed their leaves and photosynthesis ceases. The absence of photosynthesis means there is no longer a significant sink for carbon dioxide, allowing its concentration to gradually increase and reach its peak levels in October.