ESS exam 4 questions & answers
2024/2025
During evaporation, water that contains 16O will evaporate:
A.more quickly than water containing 18O
B. less quickly than water containing 18O
C.at the same rate as water containing 18O - ANSWERSA. more quickly than water containing 18O
What would happen to the d18O of the oceans due to the growth of land ice?
A.d18O of ocean water would become more negative (gain more 16O relative to 18O)
B.There is no change
C.d18O of ocean water would become more positive (lose more 16O relative to 18O) - ANSWERSC. d18O
of ocean water would become more positive (lose more 16O relative to 18O)
What are the distinct differences seen between the ice core temperature records from Greenland and
Antarctica and why do these differences exist?
A.Antarctica shows rapid temperature swings while Greenland does not. This is because it is a much
colder place and isolated from the rest of the world's climate
B.Greenland shows rapid temperature swings while Antarctica does not. This is because freshwater
released into the North Atlantic from Northern hemisphere ice sheets can shut down the thermohaline
circulation
C.Greenland shows gradual changes in temperature related to Milankovitch cycles but Antarctica does
not show this - ANSWERS
Using the graph from Question 5, what is the maximum carbon dioxide concentration seen in the
atmosphere over the last 800,000 years (not including the last 200 years)?
A. 300 ppb
B. 170 ppm
C.300 ppm
D. 500 ppm - ANSWERSC.300 ppm
2024/2025
During evaporation, water that contains 16O will evaporate:
A.more quickly than water containing 18O
B. less quickly than water containing 18O
C.at the same rate as water containing 18O - ANSWERSA. more quickly than water containing 18O
What would happen to the d18O of the oceans due to the growth of land ice?
A.d18O of ocean water would become more negative (gain more 16O relative to 18O)
B.There is no change
C.d18O of ocean water would become more positive (lose more 16O relative to 18O) - ANSWERSC. d18O
of ocean water would become more positive (lose more 16O relative to 18O)
What are the distinct differences seen between the ice core temperature records from Greenland and
Antarctica and why do these differences exist?
A.Antarctica shows rapid temperature swings while Greenland does not. This is because it is a much
colder place and isolated from the rest of the world's climate
B.Greenland shows rapid temperature swings while Antarctica does not. This is because freshwater
released into the North Atlantic from Northern hemisphere ice sheets can shut down the thermohaline
circulation
C.Greenland shows gradual changes in temperature related to Milankovitch cycles but Antarctica does
not show this - ANSWERS
Using the graph from Question 5, what is the maximum carbon dioxide concentration seen in the
atmosphere over the last 800,000 years (not including the last 200 years)?
A. 300 ppb
B. 170 ppm
C.300 ppm
D. 500 ppm - ANSWERSC.300 ppm
