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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 that all areas of Antarctica, except East Antarctica, show a negative mass change. Over the years from 1992 to 2017, Antarctica as a whole has seen a decrease in ice mass, contributing approximately 8 mm to global sea-level rise. Notably, West Antarctica has been a significant contributor, demonstrating a steady reduction in ice mass, especially pronounced between 2004 and 2014. In contrast, East Antarctica has experienced minimal changes, indicating a relatively stable ice mass during this period.
Step 2
Analysis of Figure 1b
Answer
Figure 1b provides a spatial representation of the ice extent across Antarctica in 2013. The proportional circles suggest that areas like the Amundsen Sea and the Pine Island Glacier have the largest ice loss, whereas the East Antarctic region, particularly around the Shackleton Ice Shelf, shows less variation in ice extent. Furthermore, the Antarctic Peninsula demonstrates more erratic behavior with diverse ice loss areas, highlighting significant variability in how different regions contribute to total ice loss in Antarctica.