ice core data from 90,000 to 10,000 years before present

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  1. This assignment explores ice core data from 90,000 to 10,000 years before present. The data include carbon dioxide and methane concentrations and a measure of the ratio of oxygen isotope 18 to oxygen isotope 16 (called “d   18O” and pronounced “dell O 18”). These data come from the Greenland GISP2 and the Antarctic Byrd ice core; atmospheric CH  4 and CO  2 records are from the Byrd ice core. The data are contained in 
    data_file_paleoclimate_assignment.xls.
    • General guidance for graphing:  Highlight just the numbers in columns A and B to generate the first scatterplot. Then right click in the scatterplot and click select data, click the plus button under legend series to add a new data series, type the name of the next climate variable, click and drag data in column D for the x axis, and then click and drag all data in column E to get the variable on the y axis. Click ok and repeat adding new data series for CO2 and CH4.
    • These two videos will help with chart making in Excel (plotting multiple x-y pairs in a scatter-plot in Excel;  adding a secondary y-axis in Excel.) 
    • Alternatively, you can use this ready-made plot of the data https://people.cas.sc.edu/carbone/202/assignments/Natural_climate_change/dO18graph.png
    Present the following in a document:
    1. Make a single graph in Excel, Numbers, or any other graphics program that plots all four climate records versus age for the period from 10,000 to 90,000 years before present (the CO  2 data only covers ~20,000 – 90,000 ka). On the figure. label the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the Younger Dryas (YD) periods.
    2. Identify on the two d   18O graphs which times suggest warmer temperatures and which suggest colder temperatures
    3. Insuring that the time (x-axis) is aligned, discuss differences that you see between the two d   18O curves.
    4. Is the CH  4 record more similar to the Greenland or the Antarctic temperature record?
    5. Compare the CO  2 and CH  4 records. How are they different?
    6. Calculate the rate of CO  2 increase (DCO  2/Dt) for one of the large, abrupt events. How does this compare to the rate of CO  2 change from the pre-industrial period (1750) to present

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