Evidence for Climate Change

Question 1

What two changes to the physical environment provide evidence for climate change?

Answer 1

The analysis of atmospheric gas concentration in ice cores.

Glacial retreat.

Question 2

How old is ice in Greenland?

Answer 2

Upto 123,000 years old

Question 3

How old is ice in Antarctica?

Answer 3

800,000 years old

Question 4

What is the CO2 level of ice which froze pre-1800?

Answer 4

280 ppmv

Question 5

What is the CO2 level of ice which froze since 1800?

Answer 5

340 ppmv in 1978

Question 6

How does the increased CO2 levels in ice cores since the industrial revolution provide evidence for climate change?

Answer 6

It shows evidence because as fossil fuels began to be burnt in the industrial revolution this tracks with increased CO2 in ice cores and increased temperatures.

Question 7

What glaciers are melting?

Answer 7

Peru’s Glacier National Park

90% of Antarctica’s glaciers are melting.

Question 8

How do glaciers show evidence for climate change?

Answer 8

Normally naturally higher temperatures in summer cause glaciers to retreat but this is compensated by it advancing by around the same amount in winter meaning there is no overall change in size over an extended period of time.
In recent years, glaciers have retreated in summer by more than they have advanced by in winter which has resulted in a reduction in their size.
This shows evidence because this overall reduction in size has been caused by rising temperatures which have occured despite climate skeptics.