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paleoclimatology
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Paleoclimatology (British spelling, palaeoclimatology) is the scientific study of climates predating the invention of meteorological instruments, when no direct, artificial measurement data were available. As instrumental records only span a tiny part of Earth's history, the reconstruction of ancient climate is important to understand natural variation and the evolution of the current climate.
Paleoclimatology is the scientific study of Earth's climates from long ago, before we had thermometers and other instruments to measure weather directly. By reconstructing what ancient climates were like, scientists can understand natural climate patterns and how today's climate has evolved over time.
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~28 min read
Article
28 sectionsContents
- History
- Reconstructing ancient climates
- Proxies for climate
- Direct Quantitative Measurements
- Ice
- Dendroclimatology
- Sedimentary content
- Sclerochronology
- Landscapes and landforms
- Timing of proxies
- Notable climate events in Earth history
- History of the atmosphere
- Earliest atmosphere
- Second atmosphere
- Third atmosphere
- Climate during geological ages
- Precambrian climate
- Phanerozoic climate
- Quaternary climate
- Climate forcings
- Internal processes and forcings
- External forcings
- Mechanisms
- See also
- References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- External links
Paleoclimatology (British spelling, palaeoclimatology) is the scientific study of climates predating the invention of meteorological instruments, when no direct, artificial measurement data were available. As instrumental records only span a tiny part of Earth's history, the reconstruction of ancient climate is important to understand natural variation and the evolution of the current climate.
Paleoclimatology uses a variety of proxy methods from Earth and life sciences to obtain data previously preserved within rocks, sediments, boreholes, ice sheets, tree rings, corals, shells, and microfossils. Combined with techniques to date the proxies, the paleoclimate records are used to determine the past states of Earth's atmosphere.