Water Analyst, writing homework help

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Role #4 Water Analyst

You believe that the answer lies
in calculating how much fresh water we use on earth for consumption,
agriculture, etc. The table below is the estimated volume of freshwater
withdrawn on earth in a year vs. the year the data was taken. 

a)  Create a
scatterplot of the data (yearly volume vs. year).

b)  Perform linear
regression and exponential regression on your scatterplot.  Which is a better fit? How do you know? What
is the best fit equation?

c)  If the average
volume of precipitation on earth is 5000 cubic kilometers per year, when will
we be using as much as we get from precipitation? How confident are you in this
prediction? Why? What factor(s) may also need to be considered?

d)  Present your
graphs, equations, calculations and results to the leader and the group.

Year

Volume of Freshwater Withdrawn in a Year (in cubic kilometers)

1960

2000

1970

2500

1980

3100

1990

3600

1995

3800

2000

4000

Source: University of Michigan, “Human Appropriation of the
World’s Fresh Water Supply.” http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/