Ice Cores and Climate Change

The video explores the work at the National Ice Core Lab in Denver, Colorado, where scientists study ice cores from Antarctica. The WAIS Divide project, supported by the National Science Foundation, aims to collect and analyze ice cores to understand past climate conditions. These cores, preserved in a 40-below-zero freezer, provide valuable data on historical weather patterns, atmospheric gases, and climate change. Researchers use this information to predict future climate scenarios and understand the mechanics of climate change.

What is the primary purpose of the National Ice Core Lab?

• To explore outer space

• To develop new freezing technologies

• To analyze ancient ice cores

• To study marine life

What does WAIS Divide stand for?

• Western Arctic Ice Sheet

• West Arctic Ice Survey

• Western Antarctic Ice Sheet

• World Antarctic Ice Study

Why are polar glaciers unique according to the transcript?

• They are located in the Arctic

• They preserve atmospheric elements

• They melt every year

• They are the largest glaciers

How deep did the team drill to retrieve the ice cores?

• One mile

• Two miles

• Half a mile

• Three miles

What is stored in the giant freezer at the Ice Core Lab?

• Fossils

• Ancient artifacts

• Ice cores from around the world

• Meteorites

What do the layers in ice cores resemble?

• Mountain peaks

• Tree rings

• River currents

• Ocean waves

What can scientists learn from the bubbles trapped in ice cores?

• The age of the ice

• The density of the ice

• The color of the ice

• The gases present in the past atmosphere

What is a challenge mentioned in understanding ice sheet responses?

• Inadequate data on ice sheet behavior

• Unpredictable weather

• Lack of technology

• Limited funding

How do ice cores help in climate change research?

• By increasing global temperatures

• By providing energy

• By predicting volcanic eruptions

• By offering insights into past climate conditions

What is the ultimate goal of studying ice cores in relation to climate?

• To create new ice sheets

• To predict future climate changes

• To stop global warming

• To increase snowfall