Question 1
1 markAccording to instrumental records, what has been the primary trend in mean global temperatures since the late 19th century?
Senior Secondary (HKDSE) · Geography
Evidence: temperature records, ice cores, sea‑level rise: Practice Questions
5 multiple-choice questions marked as you go, and 5 written questions with worked solutions. All on Evidence: temperature records, ice cores, sea‑level rise.
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Question 2
1 markBeyond the melting of glaciers and ice sheets, thermal expansion of ocean water is a significant contributor to global sea-level rise. Which fundamental physical property of water is most directly responsible for this phenomenon when ocean temperatures rise?
Question 3
1 markScientists rely on a range of evidence, including temperature records, ice cores, and sea-level data, to reconstruct Earth's past climate and understand current climate change. Which of the following statements offers the most accurate and complete synthesis of the unique contributions and temporal scope of these three primary lines of evidence?
Question 4
1 markHow do sediment cores from ocean floors primarily provide evidence of past climate conditions, distinct from ice core analysis?
Question 5
1 markModern climate science relies heavily on space-based observation. What technique allows scientists to measure absolute global mean sea level changes with high precision, independent of local land movements that often complicate tide gauge records?
Question 6
2 marksWhat is the main source of data used to compile global average surface temperature records for the last century?
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Question 7
3 marksExplain how thermal expansion of seawater contributes to global sea-level rise.
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Question 8
5 marksDescribe how the analysis of oxygen isotopes (\(\delta^{18}O\) and \(\delta^{16}O\)) in ice cores provides a proxy for reconstructing past temperatures.
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Question 9
3 marksSea-level rise is one of the clearest physical indicators of global climate change over the past century.
(a) State the two primary physical processes that contribute directly to global eustatic sea-level rise in a warming world. (1 mark)
(b) Briefly explain how thermal expansion of ocean water occurs as global temperatures increase. (1 mark)
(c) Explain why the melting of floating ice shelves does not directly contribute to global sea-level rise, whereas the melting of land-based ice sheets does. (1 mark)
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Question 10
5 marksGeographers and climatologists rely on multiple lines of evidence to determine if current global warming is part of a natural cycle or an irreversible trend.
(a) Compare instrumental temperature records and ice cores as evidence for climate change, focusing on their respective time scales and the nature of the data they provide. (2 points)
(b) Explain how sea-level rise serves as physical evidence of a warming planet, specifically referring to the processes of thermal expansion and cryospheric change. (3 points)
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