Final answer:
The multiple peaks on the hydrograph in Quincy, IL in June are likely due to multiple rain events. Each rainfall causes a temporary rise in river levels, shown as peaks on the graph. The correct answer to the question is D) Multiple rain events during the month.
Step-by-step explanation:
The multiple peaks on the hydrograph for the area of Quincy, IL in June can likely be attributed to multiple rain events during the month. A hydrograph shows how a river or stream responds to a period of rain or snow melt. Peaks on the graph represent increases in water discharge or flow within the river after a rainfall event. If there are multiple peaks on the hydrograph, it generally implies that there were several periods of rainfall over the course of the monitored time frame, each contributing to a rise in the water level of the river.
The most plausible answer to the question is D) Multiple rain events during the month. Options A, B, and C do not commonly correspond to the patterns seen in a hydrograph. Irregular weather patterns might contribute to the variation in peak flow rates, sudden snowstorms could affect a hydrograph but are less likely in June, and changing river directions would not cause multiple peaks in the graph but would rather alter the river's overall flow patterns.
To distinguish between random variations in weather and true climate change, scientists look for long-term trends in data. Random variations can occur year to year, but climate change is observed as significant shifts in weather patterns that persist over decades. As for the distinction between a single weather event and climate change, a weather event is a short-term incidence, whereas climate change refers to long-term variations in patterns of weather.