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Paleoclimatology - Coggle Diagram

- - - - These carbon isotopes are preserved in the mineral composition (CaCO3) that makes a stalagmite.
- - - - Each year of snow in these areas adds another layer of ice that does not melt due to the cold temperatures year round. Each layer of ice represents one year and using these layers we can learn a lot about past climates.
        
        Inside of ice cores you can see salt from the ocean, dust, volcanic ash, and numerous different gases.
        
        The ratio between O16 and O18 water molecules in the ice can show snow accumulations and help with finding past temperatures.
        
        Scientists are keen to study the gases within ice cores because by researching these gases we can tell a lot about the atmospheric conditions during the time when the ice was formed.
        
        We can look at how much CO2 there was in the atmosphere at that time and look for patterns in earth's climate. We can also look at the density of oxygen in the air and what other gases were floating around during that time period.
        
        Through the patterns of volcanic ash within ice cores, we can have a better prediction at volcano cycles.
        
        Using the amounts of ocean salt in the ice cores we can tell how rough the oceans were.
- - - - Human activity can also be tracked through dendrochronology.
        
        Almost all human societies in the past used wood in some fashion. Using the wood left behind by past humans we can tree ring date the time at which sites were occupied and what the conditions were like when people were living there.
- - - - The coral deposits are lighter shade when growth is fast (typically in the summer).
      - The coral deposits are a darker shade when growth is slow (typically in the winter).
        
        Based off of the shades of the coral, we can determine what the conditions were like when and where it grew.
    - - During the warmer phases of El Nino events, coral bleaching occurs. Through the layers of coral reefs, if the shade of the coral is unnaturally lighter than normal, then it can be determined that an El Nino event likely happened.
- - - - You can then find out the climate during the time of those plants by looking at the conditions in which that plant needs to survive. Most likely the climate was what was ideal for the most populous plant in that area at the time.