Question 22N.2.SL.TZ0.3a
| Date | November 2022 | Marks available | [Maximum mark: 2] | Reference code | 22N.2.SL.TZ0.3a |
| Level | SL | Paper | 2 | Time zone | TZ0 |
| Command term | Analyse | Question number | a | Adapted from | N/A |
It has been argued that variation in the global mean surface temperature has been caused by variation in energy from the Sun. Analyse whether evidence from the graphs supports this argument.
[2]
(Evidence does not support this argument because:)
- overall increase in surface temperature but no overall increase/slight decrease in solar irradiance;
- peaks and troughs in solar irradiance do not correspond with fluctuations in surface temperature;
Do not award marks for claims that the evidence supports the argument, for example, claims that the fluctuations coincide.
Most candidates earned one of the two marks for the idea that the long-term trend in global mean surface temperature is an increase whereas there has if anything been an overall decrease in energy from the Sun between 1980 and 2020. Few answers pointed out that ten-year cycles in Sun's energy that are seen do not correspond to fluctuations in surface mean temperature. Weaker answers tended to pick out single instances of a rise in Sun's energy corresponding with a rise in surface temperature. Very few answers included any comments on the small variation in Sun's energy — only ranging from 1360.2 to 1362.2 W m-2 which is less than 0.15% fluctuation, with no overall increase, whereas surface temperature has increased by more than a degree Celsius in the 40 years from 1978 to 2018.
