Earth and Space Sciences Regents, June 2026, question 49
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What the figure shows
The passage says that processing nickel ore at Norilsk, Russia, releases sulfur dioxide, and that sulfur dioxide forms aerosols, small particles in the atmosphere that reflect sunlight. Each choice is a two-row table with the columns "Earth System" and "Change". Table 1: Atmosphere, warmer temperatures; Hydrosphere, an increase in acid rain from increased sulfur dioxide concentrations. Table 2: Geosphere, increased chemical weathering of rocks by acid rain; Atmosphere, cooler temperatures. Table 3: Hydrosphere, a decrease in acid rain from increased sulfur dioxide concentrations; Biosphere, decreased plant extinction due to less acid rain. Table 4: Biosphere, increased plant growth due to more acid rain; Geosphere, increased physical weathering of rocks by acid rain.
How to think about it
Every row in a table must be correct for the table to be correct. Start from the passage: it says what sulfur dioxide aerosols do to incoming sunlight, so work out what that means for air temperature. Then recall what sulfur dioxide does when it dissolves in rain, and what that rain does to rocks and to plants.
Which table identifies the correct relationship between two Earth systems and how they are changed as a result of the mining for nickel? Earth System Atmosphere Warmer temperatures An increase in acid rain from increased sulfur dioxide concentrations Hydrosphere Change Earth System Geosphere ආncreased chemical weathering of rocks by acid rain Cooler temperatures Atmosphere Change Earth System Hydrosphere A decrease in acid rain from increased sulfur dioxide concentrations Decreased plant extinction due to less acid rain Biosphere Change Earth System Biosphere ආncreased plant growth due to more acid rain ආncreased physical weathering of rocks by acid rain Geosphere Change