We have only been measuring relatively accurate temperatures for the last 100-150 years. If we want to go back further into our past and get an idea of what temperatures and climates were like then we have to resort to other methods other than thermometers. A common way of studying paleoclimates (climates of the past) is to use something called a proxy indicator. In the notes you were exposed to a few of these indicators like ice cores. In this project you are going to explore proxy indicators in more depth. You are going to do a bit of research on proxy indicators.
First, choose one of the proxy indicators below that are used to analyze paleoclimates.
•Ice cores
•Tree rings
•Corals
•Pollen grains
•Lake and ocean sediments
•Packrat middens
•Historical climatology
Second, summarize the proxy indicator and include the following information:
•What is the indicator?
•How is it used to analyze past climates? (This should be about how it is able to capture information from the past)
•How far back can it be used to estimate climates?
•How accurate is it compared to other indicators?
•Is there any other interesting information about this indicator?