Climate Change (5.12)

Question 1

List the evidence for climate change

Answer 1

Increased carbon within ice cores, the use of tree rings to establish climate during certain periods and preserved pollen from peat bogs

Question 2

Explain why pollen in peat bogs a) doesn’t decay b)is useful for identifying species of plant

Answer 2

Due to the waterlogged conditions of peat bogs and their acidity it prevents enzymes from breaking down organic material. Therefore, organisms do not decay and are preserved. This allows scientists to identify plants species in the area as the pollen will be fully preserved and structure maintained.

Question 3

How can pollen in beat bogs be used to assess climate change over time

Answer 3

A record of past vegetation can be made and reconstructed models can be made and compared to the current area. This his then allows scientists to see how climate change has affected these areas.

Question 4

Explain why tree ring size differs from year to year

Answer 4

Changes in temperature each year contribute to tree ring growth. The warmer the season is the rate of photosynthesis increases leading to increased growth

Question 5

Explain how dendrochronology can be used to assess climate change over time

Answer 5

By using tree rings scientists can determine the warmth of seasons during each period of growth throughout the whole trees life. This allows scientists to see how the temperature has changed over the years