16.5: Data Dive- Global Fossil Fuel Consumption
- Page ID
- 46716
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Overview
Our World in Data (OWID) is a scientific online publication that focuses on using research and data to help tackle global concerns such as poverty, disease, hunger, climate change, war, and inequitable treatment of our world’s most vulnerable and unstable communities. Their website is particularly known for publishing a variety of graphs, some even interactive, to present the research that helps explain causes and consequences of global concerns to the public. One example graph, seen below, illustrates global fossil fuel consumption:
Questions
- What kind of graph is this?
- What question(s) are the authors trying to answer with this graph?
- What are the observed patterns of fossil fuel use (gas, oil, and coal) in this graph?
- Make a prediction for each fossil fuel use pattern for the next 50 years. For each prediction, state why you think that pattern will occur.
- How do you think climate scientists are using a graph like this to predict climate into the future?
Attribution
Rachel Schleiger (CC-BY-NC)