Question

Answer the following about ways to reconstruct the temperature history of the Earth, for 10 points each.
[10e] Recent temperature measurements can be constructed by observing these features in dendroclimatology, since they are wider when temperatures are warm. Tree ages are determined by counting these features.
ANSWER: tree rings
[10h] The abundance of this isotope in polar ice cores tracks temperatures within the last million years, since it is depleted in ice that formed during glacial periods. Water that evaporates from the oceans is depleted in this isotope.
ANSWER: oxygen-18 [or O-18]
[10m] Very ancient temperatures can be reconstructed from alkene unsaturation and oxygen-18 abundance in sediments of organisms that biologically produce this compound, like foraminifera and coccolithophores. Aragonite is a mineral composed of this compound.
ANSWER: calcium carbonate [or CaCO3]
<VD, Other Science>

Back to bonuses

Summary

Data

Chicago AChicago B100010
Illinois OrangeIllinois Blue1010020
Notre DameSIUE100010
Purdue BPurdue A100010