Paleoclimate Quiz

What is paleoclimatology?

• The study of climate records from hundreds to millions of years ago

• The study of current climate conditions

• The study of climate records from the past few decades

• The study of climate records from the last century

What are proxy records in paleoclimatology?

• Indirect records of climatic conditions

• Direct measurements of climate using instruments

• Records of climate from the last century

• Records of climate from the past few decades

Which of the following is an example of a proxy record?

• Tree ring data

• Current weather observations

• Satellite images of clouds

• Temperature measurements from weather stations

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

What can tree ring data tell us about past climate?

• The conditions experienced by the tree each year

• The current climate conditions

• The climate conditions from the last century

• The climate conditions from the past few decades

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

What do glacial rocks indicate about past climate?

• The presence of glaciers in that location at some point in the past

• The current climate conditions

• The climate conditions from the last century

• The climate conditions from the past few decades

What are some other sources of proxy data for climate?

• Lake and ocean sediments, layers of ice, corals, fossils, and historical records

• Current weather observations

• Satellite images of clouds

• Temperature measurements from weather stations

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

How do scientists analyze climate proxies?

• By measuring the width, chemical composition, and physical structure of each layer

• By taking direct measurements of climate using instruments

• By analyzing current weather observations

• By analyzing satellite images of clouds

What can records of past climate provide context for?

• Present climate conditions

• Future climate conditions

• Current weather observations

• Satellite images of clouds

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5

What do the graphs of past temperatures indicated by various methods show?

• Common patterns of temperature trends that are broadly consistent

• Current climate conditions

• Climate conditions from the last century

• Climate conditions from the past few decades

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS3-5

What does the broad agreement of several datasets increase?

• Confidence that proxies reveal valid temperature records

• Confusion about past climate

• Doubt about the accuracy of proxies

• Uncertainty about future climate