While preparing a presentation on climatology, a student takes the following notes: * Volc… — SAT

While preparing a presentation on climatology, a student takes the following notes:
* Volcanic eruptions release sulfur dioxide ( $SO_2$ ), a gas that can reflect solar radiation and lower global temperatures.
* Climatologist Marcus Thorne analyzed data from two major nineteenth-century volcanic eruptions: the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora and the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa.
* The 1815 Mount Tambora eruption released an estimated $60\text{ million}$ tons of $SO_2$ into the atmosphere and was followed by a $0.53^\circ\text{C}$ drop in global temperatures.
* The 1883 Krakatoa eruption released an estimated $20\text{ million}$ tons of $SO_2$ and was followed by a $1.2^\circ\text{C}$ drop in global temperatures.
* Thorne claims that the volume of sulfur dioxide released is not the sole factor determining the magnitude of post-eruption global cooling.

The student wants to support Thorne's claim. Which choice most effectively uses information from the given notes to accomplish this goal?

A
The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora and the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa both released sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, which can reflect solar radiation and cause global temperatures to drop.
B
Because the 1883 Krakatoa eruption occurred at a lower latitude than the 1815 Mount Tambora eruption, its sulfur dioxide emissions had a more pronounced cooling effect on the global climate.
Although the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora released three times as much sulfur dioxide as the 1883 Krakatoa eruption did, the Krakatoa eruption was followed by a significantly larger drop in global temperatures.Answer
D
The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora released $60\text{ million}$ tons of sulfur dioxide, resulting in a temperature drop of $1.2^\circ\text{C}$ , which was greater than the temperature drop following the Krakatoa eruption.

Answer

Although the 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora released three times as much sulfur dioxide as the 1883 Krakatoa eruption did, the Krakatoa eruption was followed by a significantly larger drop in global temperatures.

The correct option effectively supports the claim by comparing the data from the two eruptions. It notes that while Mount Tambora released

60\text{ million}

tons of sulfur dioxide (three times Krakatoa's

20\text{ million}

tons), Krakatoa's eruption was followed by a larger temperature decrease (

1.2^\circ\text{C}

compared to

0.53^\circ\text{C}

). This contrast directly supports the claim that the volume of sulfur dioxide released is not the sole factor determining the magnitude of the cooling.

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the claim that needs to be supported from the notes.

The claim is that the volume of sulfur dioxide (

SO_2

) released is not the sole factor determining the magnitude of post-eruption global cooling.

This sets the objective for evaluating the choices.

Synthesize the data for both volcanic eruptions from the notes.

The 1815 Mount Tambora eruption released

60\text{ million}

tons of

SO_2

and resulted in a

0.53^\circ\text{C}

temperature drop. The 1883 Krakatoa eruption released

20\text{ million}

tons of

SO_2

and resulted in a

1.2^\circ\text{C}

temperature drop.

This provides the quantitative evidence to support or refute the claim.

Compare the data to see how it shows volume is not the sole factor, and match it to the options.

Mount Tambora released more

SO_2

(

60\text{ million}

tons vs.

20\text{ million}

tons) but resulted in less cooling (

0.53^\circ\text{C}

vs.

1.2^\circ\text{C}

). The correct option must accurately reflect this comparison.

Showing that a lower volume of emissions caused a greater cooling effect directly supports the claim that volume is not the only factor.

Key Concept

Rhetorical Synthesis: Supporting Claims

Question

Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

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