L3 - Historical Evidence

Question 1

What are 3 methods which display historical evidence regarding climate change?

Answer 1

Tree rings
Ice cores
Historical records

Question 2

What do ice core records tell us about climate change?

Answer 2

Scientists drill from hundreds to thousands of metres below the ground to collect ice cores to be analysed.
Different isotopes of oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration tell us the climate patterns over time, thousands of years ago.
Ice forms in layers, more dirt in means summer.
More O-16, means colder as O-18 is heavier.

Question 3

What do tree rings tell us about climate change?

Answer 3

As trees grow, rings are produced
During summer months, the rings are wider
During dry seasons and colder climates, rings are narrower
Scars or dark rings suggest there has been damage to the tree, e.g. forest fires

Question 4

What do historical records tell us about climate change?

Answer 4

Human documentation such as diaries, records, novels, paintings and religious records are useful especially when dated
Novels tell us climate, e.g. white Christmases, colder climate.
1700s, could ice skate on the Thames