Assigned: September 23, 2010Due: September 30, 2010Global Change, GEOS 478 Undergraduate Problem Set #4 Assigned: September 23, 2010 Due: September 30, 2010 1. Your personal carbon footprint In the "population and consumption" global change drivers lecture we learned the average per person CO2 emission rates from a number of countries around the world. Let's learn where each of us in the global change class comes out in terms of carbon emissions (we'll compile the responses and see where we stand as a class). (a) We’ve chosen two personal carbon calculators for you to explore. Use these to estimate the size of your carbon footprint. (2 points) http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html http://www.safeclimate.net/calculator/ (b) Compare the size of your footprint estimated by each of the calculators. If there are differences, can you identify the source of those differences? (1 point) (c) How does your footprint compare to the average American? What country has per capita carbon emissions closest to your personal data? (2 points) [ Update to the latest numbers for country per capita emissions from the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy, see www.eia.doe.gov/environment.html, under international emissions data. ] 2. Using IPAT to estimate future CO2 emissions from component contributors. In the lecture on Population and Consumption we learned about how to apply the "IPAT identity" for constraining or estimating future impacts from current trends. Growth figures for the U.S., China and Europe between 1998 and 2003 were approximately: Table. Annual average growth rates, 1998-2003 U.S. China Europe population +1.00% +0.65% +0.4% economy ($PPP/person) +1.5% +7.7% +1.9% energy intensity of economy (Btu/$PPP) -1.9% -1.9% -1.4% carbon intensity of energy (gCO2/Btu) +0.20% -0.14% -0.1% (a) Based on these numbers, would was the annual average rate of change in CO2 emissions from the U.S., China, and Europe during 1998-2003? (2 pts) (continued)(b) Based on these trends, what would someone knowing the 2003 emissions (obtainable at www.eia.doe.gov/environment.html) have estimated the U.S., Chinese, and European CO2 emissions would be in 2008 (5 years into the future from 2003)? How do these compare to what actual DOE-reported emissions turned out to be in 2008? What do you think accounts for any discrepancies? (3 pts) (c) Extra credit: In what year would Chinese CO2 emissions exceed U.S. emissions, according to these projections? In what year did Chinese emissions actually exceed those of the U.S.? (1