What property of glacial ice helps climatologists to reconstruct the CO₂ concentrations of the atmosphere during the past?
A)The ratio of oxygen isotopes in the ice.
B)The contents of the air bubbles trapped in the ice.
C)The amount of volcanic ash frozen in the ice.
D)The amount of ¹⁶O in the water.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The contents of air bubbles trapped in glacial ice provide a record of the composition of the atmospheric gases at the time the ice was formed. By analyzing the air bubbles, climatologists can determine the past concentration of CO₂ and other gases in the atmosphere.

What Property of Glacial Ice Helps Climatologists to Reconstruct the CO₂