III. The Kyoto Protocol

   A. At the current global rate of burning fossil fuels, how many years would it take for the atmosphere's current amount of CO2 to double? Neglect sinks for CO2.

   B. The atmospheric abundance of CO2 in the northern hemisphere has been measured for several decades. It oscillates with trough-to-peak amplitude of about 5 ppmv (parts per million by volume) over a period of exactly one year (see the instructor for a plot).

   Provide a quantitative explanation for this oscillation.

Students in this group: Winnie, Bhavik, and Charles (Yes)