Proxy data

Question 1

What are historical written records and how does it determine earth’s conditions in the past

Answer 1

• newspapers , diary entries , ships logs
• gives us actual evidence of conditions in the past

Question 2

What are tree rings and how does it determine earth’s conditions in the past

Answer 2

• trees grow rings per year - the depth and width changes
• thinner and darker = colder and dryer years
• thicker and lighter = warmer and wetter

Question 3

What are ice cores and how does it determine earth’s conditions in the past

Answer 3

• ice builds up in layers annually
• thicker and lighter = more precipitation and warmer weather
• thinner and darker = less precipitation and colder conditions
• oxygen isotope analysis - change in the ratio of 016 : 018

Question 4

What are the limitations of proxy data

Answer 4

• subjective
• doesn’t go back very far
• biased

Question 5

What methods do we use today

Answer 5

• weather stations
• weather balloon
• satellites

Question 6

How do we collect atmospheric data

Answer 6

• % of GHG’s
• temp - thermometer
• pressure - borometer

Question 7

How do we collect data on land

Answer 7

• temp - thermometer

Question 8

How do we collect data from oceans

Answer 8

• temp - thermometer
• sea levels
• salinity

Question 9

How do we collect data from space

Answer 9

• cloud cover
• number of storms
  -colour of oceans

Question 10

Pros of modern methods

Answer 10

• more advanced
• more ways of collecting more data

Question 11

Cons of modern methods

Answer 11

• only a short history
• expensive

Question 12

Pros of proxy methods

Answer 12

• they’ve been used for longer so more data to compare

Question 13

Cons of proxy methods

Answer 13

• can be subjective and biased
• there are limitations to collecting data as not all places have the right things