Hull's School Ltd

Climate Change Exam Questions

Topic 5.3 and 5.4
65 min
52 marks
1.

A study of tree pollen grains in a peat bog in Finland was carried out. The number of pollen
grains of different tree species was recorded at different depths in the peat.
The data for four of these trees are given as a percentage of the total tree pollen sample, in the
table below. An estimate of the age of the sample at each depth was also made.

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Depth of
sample
/m

Age /
years

0.5

Tree pollen grain / %

Larch

Spruce

Pine

Beech

2 850

53

43

1.0

3 770

55

40

1.5

5 600

31

47

2.0

6 390

12

15

53

2.5

8 170

36

48

3.0

8 700

38

36

35

3.5

8 780

27

40

32

4.0

10 000

10

22

40

The diagram below shows the present-day distribution of the four tree species found in the main
climatic zones of the northern hemisphere.
C

l i m

r c t i c

r e a l

T e m

(a)

a t i c

z o n

a r c h

S
P

e r a t e

- t r o

i n

p
e

r u
B

i s t r i b

c e
e e c h

i c a l

Suggest how pollen grains can provide evidence about which species of tree were growing
successfully in Finland as the peat bog was forming.
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(2)

(b)

(i)
Put a cross in the box next to the species of tree that does not provide
evidence about the changes in climate in Finland during the last 10 000 years.
A

Larch

Spruce

Pine

Beech
(1)

t i o

(ii)

Explain your answer to (b)(i).

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(2)

(c)

With reference to the present-day distribution of the four tree species and the results of the
pollen grain study, suggest in what way the climate in Finland has changed during the last
10 000 years. Give reasons for your answer.
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(5)

(d)

Describe how dendrochronology can be used to provide evidence for climate change.
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(2)
(Total 12 marks)

Hull's School Ltd

2.

Pollen grains buried in peat can be used to deduce what the climate was like in the past.
(a)

(i)

State how the age of a peat layer can be estimated.

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(1)

(ii)

The presence of a large amount of alder tree pollen in a layer of peat is taken to
mean that there was high rainfall when the layer was formed. Suggest why it is
thought that the presence of alder pollen in peat indicates high rainfall.
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(1)

(b)

The exoskeletons of many insect species are also found in peat. Exoskeletons are resistant
to decay. Suggest how insect exoskeletons from peat could be used to show that the
climate became warmer over a period of years.
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(2)
(Total 4 marks)

3.

The digestive processes of ruminant animals produce the gases methane and carbon dioxide. A
study was carried out in Virginia, USA, to determine the methane and carbon dioxide emissions
from cattle and sheep. The results of this study are shown in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1 Table showing the emissions of methane and carbon dioxide
from cattle and sheep in 1990 and 1996.
Methane emissions
1
/tonnes year

Carbon dioxide
1
emissions/tonnes year

1990

1996

Beef cattle

45 897

52 626

126 217

144 723

Dairy cattle

11 537

10 108

31 727

29 144

976

672

2 628

1 848

58 410

63 406

160 572

175 715

Sheep
Total
% Increase

1990

8.6

1996

Both methane and carbon dioxide are greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases vary in their potential
warming effect. Figure 2 shows the global warming potential (GWP) of greenhouse gases
relative to carbon dioxide.
Figure 2 Table comparing the global warming potential of four greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gas

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Carbon dioxide

Methane

21

Nitrous oxide

206

CFC-11

3400

The percentage contribution of the different greenhouse gases to global warming has changed
since 1880. These changes are shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3 Pie charts showing the percentage contribution of different greenhouse
gases to global warming.
( a )

O
t h
N
i t r o u s
o x i d e s
C

e t h

)
t h

e r

N
i t r o u s
o x i d e s
C

C a r b o n
d i o x i d e

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( b

e r

a n

C a r b o n
d i o x i d e

e t h

a n

(a)

Describe how cellulose in grass is digested in a ruminant animal.

(3)

(b)

Using the data in Figure 1, calculate the percentage increase in the carbon dioxide
emissions between 1990 and 1996. Show your working.

Answer ..............................
(2)

(c)

Describe the changes in the emissions of methane and carbon dioxide between 1990 and
1996 as shown in Figure 1. Suggest reasons for these changes.

(3)

(d)

The digestive processes of ruminant animals are not the only sources of methane and
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. State one other source of each of these gases in the
atmosphere.
Methane ........................................................................................................................
Carbon dioxide .............................................................................................................
(2)

(e)

Explain the importance of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and explain how a change
in the concentration of these gases can lead to global warming.

(3)

(f)

Using the information provided in Figure 2, explain how an increase in methane

concentration in the atmosphere can have more effect than the same increase in carbon
dioxide concentration.

(2)

(g)

Carbon dioxide emissions increased after 1980.

(i)

Explain why the percentage contribution of carbon dioxide to global warming

decreased as shown in Figure 3.

(1)

(ii)

Explain how human activities could have been responsible for the changes since
1980 in methane, CFCs and nitrous oxides, as shown in Figure 3.

(3)
(Total 19 marks)

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4.

The possible effects of global warming on the growth of Arctic shrubs were investigated using
small portable greenhouses in which dwarf birch trees were grown.
(a)

Suggest three factors, other than temperature, which would be affected by enclosing a plot
of land inside one of these greenhouses.
1 ..................................................................................................................................
2 ..................................................................................................................................
3 ..................................................................................................................................
(3)

(b)

The diagram below shows the wood of one of the dwarf birch trees used in the
experiment, as seen in transverse section under a microscope. Inorganic ions (fertiliser)
were added to the soil while the tree was growing. The white arrows indicate the wood
that was formed just before the fertiliser was added.

(i)

Name the method by which tree rings can be used to make deductions about the
climate in the past.
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(1)

(ii)

Describe the change in growth following the addition of the fertiliser.

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(2)

(c)

Describe a technique which could be used to provide evidence that dwarf birch became
more abundant 9000 years ago during an earlier period of global warming.
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(2)

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(d)

Explain why a large increase in growth of trees may help to reduce the amount of global
warming in future.
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(2)

(e)

Explain why an increase in the temperature of the soil (such as that due to global
warming) would affect the decay of plant material in Arctic soils.
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(2)
(Total 12 marks)

5.

Coral reefs are formed and maintained by very large numbers of simple animals called polyps.
These polyps have single-celled algae (simple photosynthetic organisms) living inside their
cells.
It is thought that when the sea is too warm the relationship between the coral polyps and the
algae breaks down, and the reef begins to look white (becomes bleached). If the sea temperature
falls again within a few weeks then the coral polyps and the algae reunite. If it does not, then the
coral polyps die.
In 1998, 16% of the worlds coral reefs showed some bleaching. Half of these damaged reefs are
now recovering.
The Great Barrier Reef off the east coast of Australia has been badly bleached in the last few
years. The average sea temperature on the reef has increased by 0.3 C in the last century. It is
feared that southern and central sections of the Great Barrier Reef are likely to be severely
affected by sea temperature rises in the next 20-40 years.

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(a)

Name a method by which global sea temperatures can be monitored.

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(1)

(b)

Suggest how the algae normally help the coral polyps to survive.
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(2)

(c)

Some recovery in the Great Barrier Reef may be taking place at present. Suggest a
possible explanation for this, other than change in sea temperature.
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(2)
(Total 5 marks)