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Analyse the data shown in Figure 1a and Figure 1b - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 1 - 2022 - Paper 2
Question 1
Analyse the data shown in Figure 1a and Figure 1b. Figure 1a shows the change in Antarctic ice and the relative contribution to sea-level change between 1992 and 20... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Analyse the data shown in Figure 1a and Figure 1b - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 1 - 2022 - Paper 2
Step 1
Analysis of Figure 1a
Answer
Figure 1a illustrates a significant loss of ice mass across Antarctica, with the entire continent showing a negative mass change. The contribution to sea-level rise has been approximately 8 mm due to this loss. East Antarctica shows a relatively stable ice mass compared to West Antarctica, which has experienced more significant changes. There is a noticeable dip in the ice mass change around 2004, followed by slight fluctuations until 2017.
Step 2
Analysis of Figure 1b
Answer
In Figure 1b, the distribution of ice extent across Antarctica in 2013 shows variability in ice loss. East Antarctica has regions of lesser ice loss compared to West Antarctica, where significant areas experienced higher ice mass losses, particularly around the region of Pine Island Glacier. The size of the circles in the figure indicates the volume of ice lost, with larger circles reflecting more extensive changes.
Step 3
Comparison and Conclusion
Answer
Connecting both figures, we can infer that while East Antarctica has shown less change, certain regions are still vulnerable. The ice loss in West Antarctica is more erratic compared to East Antarctica. The data suggests a complex relationship between different areas, indicating that while large regions may be stable, others are experiencing severe changes that contribute to sea-level rise.