Question

The graph shows how sea ice extent in the Arctic region has changed since 1975. Classify the questions based on whether they can or cannot be answered using the graph.

Graph titled Extent of Arctic Sea Ice with Year on X-axis, and Square miles of sea ice on Y-axis. Zigzag line shows Arctic Sea Ice in 1979 at 2.7 Million, and keeps on decreasing till year 2012 at 1.4 million, and rises in 2013 at 2.1 million.

What is the overall
change in sea ice
extent since 1980?
How has the change in
sea ice extent affected
precipitation?
Which regions have
been most affected by
reduced sea ice extent?
In which year was sea
ice extent the highest?
How has sea ice extent
fluctuated every five
years since 1980?
What is the estimated
sea ice extent in 2020?

Answer 1

Analyzing sea ice extent involves calculating the slope of the best-fit line, comparing hemispherical trends, examining data variability, and discussing future implications like sea level rise and climate change.

Step-by-step explanation:

The task of analyzing the sea ice extent in the Arctic region involves interpreting a graph of sea ice coverage from 1975 to 2020. To answer questions regarding this data, one would calculate the slope of the line of best fit using the given dataset; this represents the rate of change in sea ice extent over time.

A comparison of the sea ice extent between the northern and southern hemispheres can be deduced by examining the trends presented in the graphs for both regions. Furthermore, analyzing the data variability involves observing the spread of data points around the line of best fit, which provides insights into how consistent or variable the sea ice coverage has been throughout the years. Variability in sea ice extent may be influenced by factors like global warming, ocean currents, and atmospheric conditions. Finally, the discussion of future implications, such as the projected decline in sea ice and corresponding effects on global sea level and climate, helps us understand the importance of these changes.