ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

ENCYCLOPEDIC ENTRY

Paleoclimatology

Paleoclimatology

Paleoclimatology is the study of the climate history of Earth. This science helps people better understand the climate of Earth in the past and how it relates to the present and future climate on the planet.

Grades

5 - 8

Subjects

Chemistry, Conservation, Earth Science, Climatology

Image

Borneo Ironwood Paleoclimatology

Borneo ironwoods are quite hardy, sometimes living more than 1,000 years. This provides valuable data about the past to paleoclimatologists. They study a tree's rings to learn about the environment's temperature or precipitation while it was alive.

Photograph by Mary Helen Gagen
Borneo ironwoods are quite hardy, sometimes living more than 1,000 years. This provides valuable data about the past to paleoclimatologists. They study a tree's rings to learn about the environment's temperature or precipitation while it was alive.

Paleoclimatology is the study of previous climates that have existed during Earth's different geologic ages. Paleoclimatologists try to identify the causes of climate changes that have happened in the past in order to better understand our present and future climate.

Since modern records do not outline most of Earth’s climatic past, scientists must gather data preserved in nature over the millennia in paleological remains referred to as proxy records. The growth and size of tree rings on fallen trees are one type of proxy. Studying tree rings as proxies—a practice known as dendrochronology—helps paleoclimatologists understand the general temperature or precipitation that occurred on Earth when the tree was alive. This enables scientists to theorize how temperature changes and periods of droughts may have occurred in the past.

The shells of deceased marine creatures, such as various species of diatoms and foraminifera, are another type of proxy. They have become buried beneath layers of sediment over time and contain chemicals from the time when the shell originally formed. These chemicals can be analyzed to determine the water chemistry and temperature at the time these organisms lived.

Scientists can also drill into ice sheets and extract ice cores to analyze deposits trapped within the ice, such as pollen and gas. This allows them to better understand atmospheric and climatic conditions that existed when particular layers of the sheet formed. All of this proxy data is synthesized to develop an understanding of Earth’s climate over different geologic periods.

The field of paleoclimatology has taught scientists that the climate of Earth is in a perpetual state of change. Research has revealed that there have been several ice ages as well as several periods of global warming in Earth's history. Additionally, scientists have determined that there can be both short- and long-term trends in climate. For instance, while climate change can occur—and often has occurred—over an extended amount of time, paleoclimatologists have also recorded shorter warming periods during an ice age. Scientists have become aware that Earth is very dynamic and that past events might help us better understand the past and prepare for future climate changes.

Paleoclimatology has also helped scientists study and understand how other environmental factors, such as continental drift, solar energy, greenhouses gases in the atmosphere, and the variation in Earth’s orbit have all affected the climate of Earth over time. The science of paleoclimatology is vital to our understanding of climate on Earth. As scientists become increasingly aware of how climates have been influenced in the past, they can develop models that help predict how increased carbon dioxide levels and other changes might impact the climate of Earth in the future.

Media Credits

The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit. The Rights Holder for media is the person or group credited.

Director
Tyson Brown, National Geographic Society
Author
National Geographic Society
Production Managers
Gina Borgia, National Geographic Society
Jeanna Sullivan, National Geographic Society
Program Specialists
Sarah Appleton, National Geographic Society, National Geographic Society
Margot Willis, National Geographic Society
Producer
Clint Parks
Intern
Roza Kavak
other
Last Updated

October 19, 2023

For information on user permissions, please read our Terms of Service. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please contact your teacher. They will best know the preferred format. When you reach out to them, you will need the page title, URL, and the date you accessed the resource.

Media

If a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

Text

Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service.

Interactives

Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.

Related Resources