Question

12) Scientists can use absolute dating techniques on a specific form of carbon called carbon-14. Volcanic ash contains large amounts of carbon-14. The diagram below shows partial rock columns from three different locations, with the same layer of volcanic ash identified by the dotted lines.

How can analyzing these layers of ash help scientists learn more about the rock columns in the three locations?

A) Scientists can determine the location of the volcano that erupted by comparing thethickness of the ash layer in each of the columns.

B) Scientists can determine that the ash layer was deposited at different times in eachcolumn because it is found at different depths in the columns.
Scientists can determine the age of the ash layer in one location and use that

C) information to estimate the age ranges of matching sequences of rocks in other locations.
Scientists can determine whether the volcanic eruption that produced the ash layer
D) was responsible for the extinction of species found in the rock columns in the other locations.

Answer 1

Analyzing these layers of ash help scientists learn more about the rock columns in the three locations is c) Scientists can determine the age of the ash layer in one location and use that information to estimate the age ranges of matching sequences of rocks in other locations.

Scientists can determine the location of the volcano that erupted by comparing the thickness of the ash layer in each of the columns. While the thickness of the ash can provide some clues about the proximity to the volcano, it's not a definitive indicator and other factors like wind and terrain can also influence thickness.

Therefore, by dating the ash layer in one location using carbon-14, scientists can then use that age as a reference point to estimate the age ranges of rock layers containing similar ash deposits in the other locations. This allows them to establish relative timelines and potentially correlate rock sequences across different regions.**