DEFINITION OF PALEOCLIMATOLOGY

The study of past and ancient climates

and their distribution and variation in space and time, and of

the mechanism of long-term climate variations. Various types

of data are used to determine past climates, such as the distribution

of certain fauna and flora that are climate sensitive,

and the distribution of certain rock types that form in

restricted climate conditions. Other types of data are used as

paleoclimate indicators, including tree ring studies (dendrochronology),

ice core data, cave deposits (speleothems),

and lake sediment studies. Increasingly, isotopic data such as

ratios between light and heavy oxygen isotopes are used in

these studies as paleoclimate indicators, since these ratios are

very sensitive to past global climates, glaciations, and elevations

at which rainwater fell.

Most paleoclimate studies reveal that there have been

major climate shifts on the planet throughout Earth history,

with periods of near global glaciation; periods of intense hot

and humid, or hot and dry, weather; and more temperate

periods, such as the interglacial stage we are currently experiencing.

Many factors may play roles in climate change,

including orbital and astronomical variations described by

Milankovitch cycles, plate tectonics and the distribution of

continental landmasses, and volcanic productivity.

See also CLIMATE; CLIMATE CHANGE; DENDROCHRONOLOGY;

MILANKOVITCH CYCLES.

Title Post:
Rating: 100% based on 99998 ratings. 99 user reviews.
Author:

Terimakasih sudah berkunjung di blog SELAPUTS, Jika ada kritik dan saran silahkan tinggalkan komentar