Schiza. A, Fatana. M,Nerdin. M,

Leena. S

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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

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IntroductionWhat is climate?

o Climate is the weather in a specific location which is

averaged over a long period of time.

What is Paleoclimatology?

o The detailed study of climate of the past.

Proxy records: Stores of information in ice

cores, tree rings, coral reefs, ocean sediments,

caves.1/16/2011 3

Ice Cores What are Ice cores :

o Long cylinders of ice extracted from large ice sheets

Development: Occurs overtime ---> snow falls ---> compact layers of ice

form

Analysis:

o Top layer ----> recent Inner layer ---> older

o Minute bubbles

o Each layer represents different year/season

o Dust particles

Locations found: Lake Vostok, Antarctica, Green land

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Ice cores: Procedure/Drilling

Technology Information required prior to procedure:

o The angle of the drill, depth, the power consumption of the machine

Machine consists of :

o 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

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Ice coring in Antarctica: Video

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Ice cores: Testing Very fragile: easily contaminated

Core processing line

Exterior vs. interior testing

Gas testing:

o Cut into thin slices

o Air bubbles tested for certain gases such as: carbon

dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, etc

o Separately tested for oxygen --> types --> light to

heavy atom ratio

Dust particles include information regarding precipitation

and volcanic eruptions1/16/2011 7

This ice is 45000 years old, and the gas bubbles are plainly visible

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Glaciers

What’s a glacier:

oSlow moving mass of ice

Movement occurs due to gravitational pull

Carve U-shaped valleys ---> in the shape of

rivers

Analysis:

oGlacial ice and surrounding debris

Glacial valleys with no ice, represents evidence

of climate change1/16/2011 9

What’s Dendrochronology?

o 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:

o Width of rings

o 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

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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

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Coral Reefs Growth patterns affected by:

oSalinity

o Temperature

oAcidity of sea water

Salinity changed due to precipitation

Slightest change in temperature ---> growth

pattern changes

Temperature data states past sea surface

temperatures1/16/2011 12

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 temperatures1/16/2011 13

Palynology

What is Palynology:

Science which studies contemporary and fossil

palynomorphs

Palynomorphs

Found in:

Sedimentary rock, sediments

Trapped pollen---> during build up of

sediments1/16/2011 14

Palynology

Past plant species

Characteristics of fossils:

oSize, shape, pores, furrows, air sacs

Processes used:

oWet sieving

oChemical treatment

oPollen diagram

1/16/2011 15

Ocean SedimentsWhat are sediments

oSolid fragments of material that come from the

weathering of rock and are carried and

deposited by wind, water, or ice.

Sediment can originate from:

oBiota

oEroded material

oAshes

oPrecipitates

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Ocean Sediments

Types of sediment:

oTerrigenous

oBiogenic

oVolcanogenic

oHydrogenous

Data retrieved such as: humidity

variations, wind directions, wind

speeds, dry/wet period1/16/2011 17

Ocean Sediments Location

Examination:

o Large cylindrical cores

oRefrigeration

oPhysical, chemical, biological make-up

Trapped entities:

o Fossils of animals/plants

oAshes

o pollen

1/16/2011 18

Ocean Sediments

Transportation of sediment depends

upon:

oSize

oOriginal location

Transportation: (mainly of terrigenous material)

oWind ---> glacial periods

oWater (rivers)

oEarth quakes1/16/2011 19

Caves: Stalactites and Stalagmites

What is a Stalactite:

oA cylinder of calcium carbonate hanging

from the roof of a limestone cave

What is a Stalagmite:

oA cylinder of calcium carbonate

projecting upward from the floor of a

limestone cave1/16/2011 20

Caves: Stalactites and Stalagmites

Determine data such as:

Record of precipitation

Temperatures

Analysis:

Growth rate

Oxygen atom ratio

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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?

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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.

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References Whitaker, Dick. "Dick's Blog: Measuring Past Climates." 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. "Stories in the Ice." Warning from the ice. Online producer, NOVA, n.d. Web. 13 Jan. 2011.

<www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/warnings/stories/>.

Bruckner, Monica. "Paleoclimatology: Climate Proxies." Microbial Life Educational Resources. Montana State

University, n.d. Web. 11 Jan. 2011. <http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/topics/proxies/paleoclimate.html>.

Gardiner, Lisa. "How Do We Investigate Climates of the Past?." 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.

"Climate Change - Studying Climate Change - Tree Rings." PRIweb.org: Redirecting.... Paleontological Research

Institution, n.d. Web. 9 Jan. 2011. <http://www.priweb.org/globalchange/climatechange/studyingcc/scc_01.html>.

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References British Antarctic Survey. "Oldest Antarctic Ice Core Reveals Climate History." ScienceDaily 11 June 2004. 15

January 2011 <http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2004/06/040611080100.htm>.

National Science Foundation. "Researchers drill through mile and a half of Greenland ice sheet in search of

climate change insights." ScienceDaily 4 August 2010. 15 January 2011 <http://www.sciencedaily.com­

/releases/2010/08/100804133448.htm>.

"esource-stu." 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.

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The EndThank you for listening

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