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Evidence for climate change in the Quaternary period
I can identify evidence for climate change in the Quaternary period.
Lesson 1 of 6
New
New
- Year 10
- AQA
Evidence for climate change in the Quaternary period
I can identify evidence for climate change in the Quaternary period.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Climate has changed in the past through natural causes.
- Evidence for natural climate change include ice cores, tree rings and historical sources.
- Evidence can be used to reconstruct climate change from the Quaternary to the present day.
Keywords
Quaternary period - the period of geological time from 2.6 million years ago to the present
Climate change - a long-term change in Earth’s climate patterns
Ice core - a cylinder of ice extracted from an ice sheet or glacier which is used to analyse past climate conditions
Common misconception
Climate change has only happened recently.
The Earth's climate patterns have changed numerous times in the past, for example there have been around 50 cycles of glacial (cold) phases and interglacial (warmer) phases in the Quaternary period.
The GIS lesson for this topic, Using GIS to visualise climate change impacts, provides pupils with step-by-step instructions (with a video demo) for measuring and presenting evidence for climate change for themselves using GIS tools.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the correct definition to each key word.
Match the correct definition to each key word.
Q2.What is climate change?
What is climate change?
Short-term fluctuation in local weather patterns
Seasonal changes experienced
Q3.Carbon dioxide, helium and methane are all examples of gases.
Carbon dioxide, helium and methane are all examples of gases.
Q4.How long have humans inhabited Earth?
How long have humans inhabited Earth?
Around 2 million years
Nearly 5 million years
Q5.How do scientists monitor changes to ice sheets and glaciers?
How do scientists monitor changes to ice sheets and glaciers?
By measuring the temperature of the ocean
By studying the behaviour of polar animals
Q6.What name is given to maps which use colour scales to show how a variable (e.g. population density) changes over an area?
What name is given to maps which use colour scales to show how a variable (e.g. population density) changes over an area?
Climate maps
Physical maps
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.Which geological time period began 2.6 million years ago?
Which geological time period began 2.6 million years ago?
Jurassic
Holocene
Q2.A glacial period is when temperatures drop significantly. periods are shorter, warmer periods.
A glacial period is when temperatures drop significantly. periods are shorter, warmer periods.
Q3.Which of these sources of evidence about climate change could tell us about climates 400 000 years ago?
Which of these sources of evidence about climate change could tell us about climates 400 000 years ago?
Tree rings
Global temperature records
Sea level rise
Q4.Melting glaciers, sea level rise and global temperature records are all used to provide evidence about climate change.
Melting glaciers, sea level rise and global temperature records are all used to provide evidence about climate change.
