Climate Change 1 Flashcards
How is temperature recorded over long periods and when does it provide data until
Temperature is recorded when data is collected from weather stations, temperature plotted against time to identify long term trends of temperature. Ideally temperature recorded away from areas human population. This provides climate information back to 1650
What are dis adv of recording temperature over long periods
Dis adv of recording temp
Some data may have been collected with equipment that is less accurate
Data only goes back 3 centuries - can’t tell us about ice age.
Evidence may be anecdotal (based on memory)
How do peat bogs and pollen help provide information about climate and how far back does the info go
Peat bogs and pollen help provide information because we can study plant preserved in peat to give us an idea of climate in the past. E.g if we find pollen from a species that favours warmer climate we can infer that peat was laid down when climate was warmer.
This method provides info going back 20000 yrs
Adv of using peat bogs and pollen
Adv of using peat bogs and pollen are
Plants produce lots of pollen, so lots available in peat record
Pollen grains have tough outer layer v resistant to decay
Carbon 14 used to date layer of peat
Dis adv of using peat bogs
Dis adv of peat bogs
Peat bogs are only found in specific areas of country, so limited data set
How are peat bogs and exoskeletons used to determine climate
Peat bogs and exoskeletons are used to determine past climate because beetles we can locate their presence in cores from peat bogs e.g species favouring warmer/cooler climates suggest climate was warmer/cooler
Adv of using beetles
Adv of using beetles are
Insects respond to climate change quicker than plants, so there is a more accurate estimate of climate.
How far back does dendrochronology (tree ring studies) give climate record
Dendrochronology gives climate record back 100s of years (1000s sometimes)
How does dendrochronology work
Dendrochronology works because every year trees produce a new layer of xylem vessels (ring). Diameter of xylem vessels varies according to season when they are produced. (Wide for spring when tree grows quickly increases photosynthesis because hotter climate enzymes work faster, narrow for summer when tree grows slowly, v little growth in winter). Can use tree of known age to date trees by matching core of 2 years and extrapolating age
How do ice cores work
Ice cores work because there are bubbles of air trapped in ice.
Ratio of different oxygen isotopes in trapped air bubbles can be measured and used to estimate air temp when ice was formed.
Can also measure C02 in ice bubbles.
How can peat bogs provide evidence for climate change
Peat bogs can provide evidence for climate change because pollen is preserved in peat bogs (can date layer of peat using carbon 14) and plant species can be identified from pollen. Climate affects type of plant growing and changes in pollen over time indicates change in climate
5 point plan for brine shrimp practical
5 point plan for brine shrimp practical is:
Independent temperature use water baths of r different temps 22,28,34
Dependent: number of hatched shrimp
Controlled variables: salinity for solution, same egg counting method, same number of eggs (20) added to test tubes
Repeat experiment 5 times at each temperature
