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Analyse the data shown in Figure 7a, Figure 7b and Figure 7c - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 4 - 2019 - Paper 1
Question 4
Analyse the data shown in Figure 7a, Figure 7b and Figure 7c. Figure 7a shows the number of days where ablation exceeds accumulation across the Greenland ice sheet ... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Analyse the data shown in Figure 7a, Figure 7b and Figure 7c - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 4 - 2019 - Paper 1
Step 1
The ice sheet is experiencing melting across all of the peripheral areas
Answer
The analysis of Figure 7a indicates that the number of melting days varies across different regions of the Greenland ice sheet in 2017. Specifically, the data shows multiple areas could exceed 60 days of melting, particularly in southern regions where melting is most pronounced.
Step 2
Analysis of melting days in Figure 7b
Answer
Figure 7b highlights that the number of melting days in 2017 was significantly different from the 1981-2010 average. Many areas experienced an increase of 15-25 days, suggesting that 2017 was a notably warm year, contributing to increased melting conditions compared to historical averages.
Step 3
Percentage of melting in Figure 7c
Answer
Figure 7c illustrates that in 2017, a considerable portion of the Greenland ice sheet, approximately 35% in certain areas, was melting compared to the median percentage from 1981 to 2010. This indicates that the 2017 melting extent was indeed substantially greater than the historical median, further emphasizing the trend of increasing melt rates.