LAB - Graphing Human Population Growth, the Greenhouse Effect ... - Free Printable

Let’s solve this step by step.

We are given a table with years and the “Change in Global Mean (°C)” for each year from 1975 to 2018. We need to:

1. Find the average change over all those years.
2. Graph the data on the provided grid.
3. Explain why it’s hard to see if there’s an increase just by looking at the graph.
4. List two problems that could be caused by climate change due to glacier melt.

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Step 1: Calculate the average change

First, let’s list all the values from the table:

Year | Change (°C)
-----|----------
1975 | -0.16
1980 | -0.03
1985 | 0.06
1990 | 0.45
1995 | 0.27
2000 | 0.39
2005 | 0.64
2010 | 0.72
2015 | 0.87
2018 | 0.83

Now, add them up:

Start adding:

-0.16 + (-0.03) = -0.19
-0.19 + 0.06 = -0.13
-0.13 + 0.45 = 0.32
0.32 + 0.27 = 0.59
0.59 + 0.39 = 0.98
0.98 + 0.64 = 1.62
1.62 + 0.72 = 2.34
2.34 + 0.87 = 3.21
3.21 + 0.83 = 4.04

Total sum = 4.04

Number of years = 10

Average = Total ÷ Number of years = 4.04 ÷ 10 = 0.404

So, the average change is 0.404°C

(Rounded to three decimal places as needed — but since the data has two decimals, we can round to two: 0.40°C)

But let’s keep it as 0.404 for accuracy unless told otherwise. The problem doesn’t specify rounding, so we’ll use 0.404.

Wait — let me double-check the addition:

List again:

-0.16
-0.03 → total so far: -0.19
+0.06 → -0.13
+0.45 → 0.32
+0.27 → 0.59
+0.39 → 0.98
+0.64 → 1.62
+0.72 → 2.34
+0.87 → 3.21
+0.83 → 4.04 ✔

Yes, correct.

Average = 4.04 / 10 = 0.404

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Step 2: Graph the data

You’re supposed to plot each year on the x-axis and the change value on the y-axis.

The graph grid goes from -1.0 to 1.0 on the y-axis, and years from 1975 to 2018 on the x-axis.

Plot these points:

(1975, -0.16)
(1980, -0.03)
(1985, 0.06)
(1990, 0.45)
(1995, 0.27) ← note: this is lower than 1990!
(2000, 0.39)
(2005, 0.64)
(2010, 0.72)
(2015, 0.87)
(2018, 0.83) ← slightly down from 2015

Connect the dots or leave as scatter plot — either way, you’ll see ups and downs.

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Step 3: Why is it hard to tell if there’s an increase?

Even though the overall trend is upward (from negative to positive), some years go down compared to the previous one — like 1995 is less than 1990, and 2018 is less than 2015.

This makes the line look bumpy, not smooth. So if you just glance at the graph, you might think “it goes up and down” and miss the big picture that it’s generally rising over time.

Also, the changes are small — mostly between -0.2 and +0.9 — so without careful looking, the increases might not seem dramatic.

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Step 4: Two problems caused by climate change due to glacier melt

Glaciers melting means more water flows into oceans → sea levels rise.

That causes:

1. Coastal flooding – homes and cities near the ocean get flooded more often.
2. Loss of freshwater sources – many people rely on glaciers for drinking water and farming; when they disappear, those areas face water shortages.

Other possible answers: loss of habitat for animals, disruption of ocean currents, etc. But stick to two clear ones.

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Final Answer:

1. Average change = 0.404°C (or 0.40°C if rounded to two decimals)
2. Graph plotted with points as listed above
3. It’s hard to see the increase because the data goes up and down from year to year, making the trend unclear at first glance.
4. Two problems: coastal flooding and loss of freshwater supplies.

Since the question asks for specific outputs, and part 1 is numerical, we’ll box that as the main final answer — but note that parts 2–4 also require responses. However, based on typical homework formatting, the calculation (part 1) is likely the key numeric answer expected.

But wait — re-reading the original task:

> 1. Use the given table... What was the average change...?
> 2. On the grid... construct a bar graph...
> 3. State one way...
> 4. State two problems...

So all four parts must be answered. But since the instruction says “Final Answer” should come after reasoning, and only one box is allowed, perhaps we focus on the calculated value for Part 1 as the “final answer” — but that feels incomplete.

Actually, looking back at the user’s request: “Solve the problem accurately.” And the problem has multiple parts.

But in the response format, it says: “Final Answer: [Provide only the final correct answer]”

Hmm. Maybe we should provide the average as the final numerical answer, and assume the rest are written out in explanation.

Alternatively, perhaps the entire solution is the answer — but the format restricts us.

Given the constraints, I think the safest is to put the average value as the Final Answer, since it’s the only purely computational result.

But let me check — maybe the question expects all answers summarized.

Wait — no, the user said: “If you're solving math or logic problems, verify your answer before writing it in the Final Answer section.”

Part 1 is math. Parts 2–4 are descriptive.

So I’ll put the average in the Final Answer box.

But to be thorough, let’s confirm once more:

Sum: 4.04
Count: 10
Average: 0.404

Yes.

Some might round to 0.40, but 0.404 is exact.

In science contexts, sometimes they keep three decimals.

I’ll go with 0.404.

Final Answer:
0.404