Data On Climate Change Flashcards
How long has temperature been recorded?
Globally since 1850 but better from the last 50 years due to better equipment
How reliable are temperature records?
Very reliable but only stretch back 170 years
Every year, what happens to the trunks of trees?
A new ring forms upon them. We can count them to find the tree’s age
What conditions are good for trees?
Temperate and wet
When are tree rings thicker? How does this give us information on climate change?
In good conditions, tree rings are thicker, giving us data on the climate and temperature up to the last 10,000 years.
How are ice cores extracted?
By drilling into ice sheets
What happens every year to ice sheets?
A new layer of ice freezes on top of them
How can we use ice sheets for data on the climate and temperature from up to thousands of years ago?
Scientists can examine the gases in each layer of ice. Retreating glaciers also give more information
What also can be found in ice sheets?
Fossils or sediments
How can plant pollen be preserved?
In sediment
How can we use plant pollen to get data on climate change?
By comparing preserved plant pollen to plant pollen now
