ice core analysis
Frozen climate records
Ice core analysis is the scientific study of cylindrical samples drilled from ice sheets and glaciers.
The trapped air bubbles, dust, and chemical compounds in these cores preserve atmospheric conditions going back hundreds of thousands of years.
Scientists use ice core analysis to reconstruct past climates, track volcanic eruptions, and measure historical levels of greenhouse gases: Ice core analysis from Antarctica revealed CO2 levels not seen in 800,000 years.
- VostokSoviet space program
- deuteriumHydrogen isotope with neutron
- global warmingRising planetary temperatures
- air bubblesGas trapped in liquid
- oxygen-18Heavier oxygen isotope
trapped air · paleoclimatology · last ice age · carbon dating · trace elements · industrial pollutants · stratigraphy · firn · snow accumulation · heavy metals · volcanic activity · greenhouse gases · Antarctica · particulate matter · Greenland · polar expedition · drill rig · ocean circulation
- Antarctic explorationexpedition journals, glaciology, research stations, Terra Nova, Endurance
- Geosciencegeophysics, seismology, geodesy, hydrology, geochemistry
- paleosciencespaleontology, paleobiology, paleobotany, paleoclimatology, paleoecology
- isotope hydrologytritium, deuterium, oxygen-18, oxygen-16, carbon-14
ice core analysisweather observation
Tracking atmospheric conditions