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Analyse the data shown in Figure 7 - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 4 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 4
Analyse the data shown in Figure 7. Figure 7 shows the surface velocity of various glaciers, including Thwaites Glacier, Antarctica.
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Analyse the data shown in Figure 7 - AQA - A-Level Geography - Question 4 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
Most of the ice on the land is moving.
Answer
The data indicates that the surface velocities vary significantly across the region. For instance, the Thwaites Glacier exhibits high surface velocity values, while other glaciers such as Haynes and Pope show a broader range of velocities. The need for a logarithmic scale suggests that these variations are substantial.
Step 2
There is a very large variation in surface velocities across the region.
Answer
This variation may correlate with the distance from the coast, where glaciers tend to accelerate, and thus speed may decrease inland. The data reveals that while some glaciers reach velocities over 1000 meters per year, others barely exceed 3 meters per year as they flow towards the grounding line.
Step 3
Most of these glaciers are experiencing their fastest flows.
Answer
Glaciers closer to the sea, such as the Pine Island Glacier, display increased velocities due to the influence of ocean water. In contrast, the interior glaciers, like Smith and Kohler, exhibit much lower speeds as they are farther from seawater contact.
Step 4
Some glaciers appear to show anomalies or unique characteristics.
Answer
Particularly, the data for Haynes, Pope, Smith, and Kohler glaciers suggests a trend where these glaciers, while not as fast-moving as Thwaites, have some areas where velocity exceeds 100 meters per year near the grounding line. This indicates complex interactions between glacier dynamics and topography.