Evidence for climate change through geological time and in recent history

Question 1

Ice Cores

Answer 1

• Scientists obtain ice cores by drilling into ice sheets and removing a cylindrical tube providing data over 800 000 years old.
• The ice contains distinct layers that form from the snow
• ice cores can tell scientists about past temperatures, precipitation, atmospheric composition (such as carbon dioxide levels), volcanic activity and wind patterns.

Question 2

Atmosphere

Answer 2

• Measurements of the Earth’s average global temperature show last few decades have been successively warmer since 1850.
• According to NASA’s 2022 global climate change data, Earth temp increased by 1.1oC in the last 100 years
• Australia has warmed at a higher rate than the global average (1.4oC in the last 100 years).