Consider This 3.1 Shrinking Glaciers Worldwide
Many of the world's freshwater glaciers are shrinking. Learn about the activity of glaciers in two parts of the world outside of the continental United States.
a. Where is each glacier located?
b. What changes are taking place with each glacier?
c. Will the effects of these changes be the same at each location?

Consider This 3.12 Molecules in Motion Three-dimensional representations of molecules can be viewed on the Web using several different molecular modeling programs. Use a program available to you to view some of the molecules discussed in this chapter. Has your mental picture of these molecules changed after working with the 3-D representations? Explain.

Consider This 3.26 Climate Questions
Climate-modeling sites on the Web may deluge you with technical terms and numerical analyses. A good place to begin your understanding of climate modeling is to visit the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), billed as “the world's largest active archive of weather data.” What types of data are provided by NCDC? Propose two or three questions that you might like to investigate using these data.

Consider This 3.27 Frozen Fairbanks According to the National Climatic Data Center's data, the college weather station at Fairbanks, Alaska, is about 3-8° C (5-8° F) warmer than at the airport at Fairbanks. a. Give possible reasons for this observed difference. b. Why is the difference greater during the winter months?

Consider This 3.29 A Paradise Drowning
The Maldives, a chain of tropical islands southwest of India, may be the first modern nation to be drowned by rising sea levels.
a. Why are these islands particularly susceptible to rising sea levels?
b. What are the implications for the United States if the Maldives were lost to the sea?
c. Are any other islands currently in danger of the same fate?
Hint: An article by Nicholas Kristof of the New York Time entitled A Paradise Drowning is a good place to start.

Consider This 3.30 The Top Emitters Use Figure 3.23 and the direct link to the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center CDIAC Web site to answer these questions. a. The United States is the leader in total CO2 emissions and per capita emissions in 2005. Which countries rank second and third in each category? b. Russia is the leader in total CO2 emissions based on economic output. Which countries rank second and third in that category? c. Compare the lists from parts a and b. Offer reasons for the observed differences. d. From the CDIAC Web site, pick any country not shown in Figure 3.23. Where is that country located? How do the total emissions compare to those of the U.S.? How have this country's CO2 emissions changed over time?

Consider This 3.32 Trees as Carbon Sinks
Some researchers have concluded that new forest plantations are not very efficient at sequestering carbon. What evidence exists for this conclusion? Does it make a difference if the new plantings replace other trees or cropland? Present your findings in a report.
Hint: National Geographic News has a short article on forests as carbon sinks.

Consider This 3.33 The British Experience The British Labour Party in 1997, under the leadership of Tony Blair, boldly committed to cutting 20% off British greenhouse gas emissions by 2010. This is significantly more than the 12.5% required by the Kyoto treaty. Has progress been made toward that goal? Research this question and write a short report on the British experience in reducing greenhouse gases.

Sceptical Chymist 3.34 Drop in the Bucket?
Critics suggest that state actions, even if successful, cannot possibly have a significant effect on global emissions of greenhouse gases. Proponents, on the other hand, point out that Texas has higher greenhouse gas emissions than Canada or the U.K. In fact, if Texas were a country (and some think it is), it would be the seventh largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. Use the resources of the Web to prove or disprove these statements.
Hint: Figure 3.27, combined with the population of the United States, would provide a basis for comparison.