This document provides an overview of paleoclimatology and various proxy records used to study past climates such as ice cores, tree rings, coral reefs, ocean and lake sediments, caves, and pollen. It describes how each proxy forms layers over time that can be analyzed to obtain climatic data like temperature, precipitation levels, and atmospheric composition from the distant past. Various techniques are discussed for extracting and examining these climate proxies to reconstruct changes in Earth's environment over thousands of years.

1. Schiza. A, Fatana. M, Nerdin. M, Leena. S 01/18/11

2. Overview Introduction Ice cores What are ice cores? Procedure/ Drilling Technology  Video Testing Glaciers Dendrochronology Examining Trees Coral Reefs Palynology Examining pollen Ocean Sediments Caves Quiz Conclusion References 01/18/11

3. Introduction What is climate? Climate is the weather in a specific location which is averaged over a long period of time. What is Paleoclimatology? The detailed study of climate of the past. Proxy records : Stores of information in ice cores, tree rings, coral reefs, ocean sediments, caves. 01/18/11

4. Ice Cores What are Ice cores : Long cylinders of ice extracted from large ice sheets Development : Occurs overtime - --> snow falls ---> compact layers of ice form Analysis: Top layer ----> recent Inner layer ---> older Minute bubbles Each layer represents different year/season Dust particles Locations found: Lake Vostok, Antarctica, Green land 01/18/11

5. Ice cores: Procedure/Drilling Technology Information required prior to procedure: The angle of the drill, depth, the power consumption of the machine Machine consists of : A specialized drill head, a core barrel, chip catcher, motor, instrument package, and anti-torque knives, 4000 meter long cable Steps included within the procedure: The drill is lowered into a bore hole A section of the core (2-6 meters long) is cut, broken off and pulled back to the surface The ice core is then sent to a science trench 01/18/11

6. Ice coring in Antarctica: Video Extracting the ice core from a large ice sheet in Antarctica. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoTXbXsC69k 01/18/11

7. Ice cores: Testing Very fragile: easily contaminated Core processing line Exterior vs. interior testing Gas testing : Cut into thin slices Air bubbles tested for certain gases such as: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, etc Separately tested for oxygen --> types --> light to heavy atom ratio Dust particles include information regarding precipitation and volcanic eruptions 01/18/11

8. This ice is 45000 years old, and the gas bubbles are plainly visible 01/18/11

9. Glaciers What’s a glacier: Slow moving mass of ice Movement occurs due to gravitational pull Carve U-shaped valleys ---> in the shape of rivers Analysis: Glacial ice and surrounding debris Glacial valleys with no ice, represents evidence of climate change 01/18/11

10. What’s Dendrochronology? The study of climate changes and past events by comparing the annual growth rings of trees One dark ring and one light ring (considered as one) are grown per year/season Growing conditions (season) of the tree affect: Width of rings Color of rings Scars and burn marks Lifespan of tree Location of the tree Dead trees could also be studied, but only if preserved Dendrochronology 01/18/11

11. Examining Trees Age of tree determined by number of rings Dead trees ---> cross sections examined Living trees ---> increment cores examined Review of previous points: Thickness: Width of ring Shape: Evenly shaped/ or not Scars: Left due to insects/ diseases Burn marks: Represent natural/unnatural fires 01/18/11

12. Coral Reefs Growth patterns affected by: Salinity Temperature Acidity of sea water Salinity changed due to precipitation Slightest change in temperature ---> growth pattern changes Temperature data states past sea surface temperatures 01/18/11

13. Coral Reefs Coral bleaching Symbiotic protozoa Zooxanthellae Expulsion of protozoa ---> temperature change/harmful chemicals present Corals similar to trees ---> layers Difference: Layers in trees ---> growth patterns Layers in coral ---> sea surface temperatures 01/18/11

14. Palynology What is Palynology: Science which studies fossils of pollen, pores in rock Palynomorphs Found in: Sedimentary rock, sediments Trapped pollen---> during build up of sediments 01/18/11

15. Palynology Past plant species Characteristics of fossils: Size, shape, pores, furrows, air sacs Processes used: Wet sieving Chemical treatment Pollen diagram 01/18/11

16. Ocean Sediments What are sediments Solid fragments of material that come from the weathering of rock and are carried and deposited by wind, water, or ice. Sediment can originate from: Biota Eroded material Ashes Precipitates 01/18/11

17. Ocean Sediments Types of sediment: Terrigenous Biogenic Volcanogenic Hydrogenous Data retrieved such as : humidity variations, wind directions, wind speeds, dry/wet period 01/18/11

18. Ocean Sediments Location Examination: Large cylindrical cores Refrigeration Physical, chemical, biological make-up Trapped entities: Fossils of animals/plants Ashes pollen 01/18/11

19. Ocean Sediments Transportation of sediment depends upon: Size Original location Transportation: (mainly of terrigenous material) Wind ---> glacial periods Water (rivers) Earth quakes 01/18/11

20. Caves: Stalactites and Stalagmites What is a Stalactite: A cylinder of calcium carbonate hanging from the roof of a limestone cave What is a Stalagmite: A cylinder of calcium carbonate projecting upward from the floor of a limestone cave 01/18/11

21. Caves : Stalactites and Stalagmites Determine data such as: Record of precipitation Temperatures Analysis: Growth rate Oxygen atom ratio 01/18/11

22. Quiz What is Paleoclimatology? What gas is separately tested for in ice core testing? What two things are analyzed in glaciers? Dead trees cannot be studied when studying Dendrochronology. True or False. What’s the difference between coral reefs and trees? What is Palynology? 01/18/11

23. Conclusion Predicting past climates is not very easy. It requires a lot of knowledge and basic understandings. Some ways of predicting past climate are: ice cores glaciers tree rings Palynology ocean sediments coral reefs caves It helps scientists prepare for the future and know what climatic changes occurred in the past. 01/18/11

24. References Whitaker, Dick. &quot;Dick's Blog: Measuring Past Climates.&quot; Dick's Blog . N.p., 12 July 2209. Web. 13 Jan. 2011. <http://passingparade-2009.blogspot.com/2009/08/measuring-past-climates.html>. Tyson, Peter. &quot;Stories in the Ice.&quot; Warning from the ice . Online producer, NOVA, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2011. <www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warnings/stories/>. Bruckner, Monica. &quot;Paleoclimatology: Climate Proxies.&quot; Microbial Life Educational Resources . Montana State University, n.d. Web. 11 Jan. 2011. <http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/proxies/paleoclimate.html>. Gardiner, Lisa. &quot;How Do We Investigate Climates of the Past?.&quot; Windows to the Universe . National Earth Science Teachers Association, 15 June 2009. Web. 15 Jan. 2011. <http://WWW.windows2universe.org/earth/climate/CDcourses_investigate_climate. &quot;Climate Change - Studying Climate Change - Tree Rings.&quot; PRIweb.org: Redirecting... . Paleontological Research Institution, n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2011. <http://www.priweb.org/globalchange/climatechange/studyingcc/scc_01.html>. 01/18/11

25. References British Antarctic Survey. &quot;Oldest Antarctic Ice Core Reveals Climate History.&quot; ScienceDaily 11 June 2004. 15 January 2011 <http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2004/06/040611080100.htm>. National Science Foundation. &quot;Researchers drill through mile and a half of Greenland ice sheet in search of climate change insights.&quot; ScienceDaily 4 August 2010. 15 January 2011 <http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2010/08/100804133448.htm>. &quot;esource-stu.&quot; Nelson Education - Home Page . N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. <http://www.nelson.com/school/secondary/science/scienceperspectives/10/weblinks/esource-stu.html>. Christine, Adam-Carr, Gabber Martin, Hayhoe Christy, Hayhoe Douglas, and Hayhoe Katharine. Science Perspectives 10 . Toronto, Ontario: Nelson Education Ltd, 2010. 358-360. Print. 01/18/11

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