Question

The most recent analyses of polar ice cores have given us the ability to profile global climate change back as far as ________ years.

A) 800,000
B) 1000
C) 50,000
D) 100,000
E) 300,000,000

Answer 1

The most recent analysis of polar ice cores allows us to profile global climate change back 800,000 years. The correct answer for the student's question is A) 800,000. These ice cores contain evidence such as air bubbles and biological data that inform us about past climate conditions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The option that correctly fills in the blank is A) 800,000.

Antarctic ice cores have revealed invaluable information about Earth's past climate by trapping air bubbles and biological evidence that can be analyzed to infer temperature and carbon dioxide levels throughout history.

By studying the ice cores from locations like the Vostok station in Antarctica, scientists can assess historical atmospheric CO₂ concentrations and temperature fluctuations. These ice cores have helped document major climatic shifts, including the great ice ages. They show how atmospheric CO₂ has increased dramatically since the Industrial Revolution, providing evidence for the human impact on global climate change.