Answer
(a) The range of the ring width function is [0, 1.6 mm]
(b) The graph shows that the earth's temperature decreased from 1500 to 1700 and then tended to increase after 1700.
In the mid-19th century, there is a dip in the graph which shows that the earth's temperature decreased at this time. This could reflect the volcanic eruptions of the mid-19th century. Volcanic eruptions tend to decrease the earth's temperature since the volcanic ash in the atmosphere blocks the sunlight from reaching the earth's surface.
Work Step by Step
(a) The lowest value on the y-axis is 0 and the largest value on the y-axis is 1.6 mm. The range of the ring width function is [0, 1.6 mm]
(b) The graph shows that the earth's temperature decreased from 1500 to 1700 and then tended to increase after 1700.
In the mid-19th century, there is a dip in the graph which shows that the earth's temperature decreased at this time. This could reflect the volcanic eruptions of the mid-19th century. Volcanic eruptions tend to decrease the earth's temperature since the volcanic ash in the atmosphere blocks the sunlight from reaching the earth's surface.
