ICE CORES AND TREE RINGS

Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming So, after watching the video my question is…. Are the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming synonymous? Why or Why not? What does this have to do with climate change? So, after watching the video my question is…. Are the Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming synonymous? Why or Why not? What does this have to do with climate change?

That brings us to today’s focus… Scientists use different methods to investigate Earth’s climate history Ice Cores & Tree Rings are two methods Scientists use different methods to investigate Earth’s climate history Ice Cores & Tree Rings are two methods

Evidences of Climate Change ICE CORES ICE CORES Scientists study ICE CORES to understand how the climate has changed on Earth. ICE CORES ICE CORES form layers similar to rock. Remember Sedimentary Rocks and the Law of Superposition? – Lower layers are older – Upper layers are younger ICE CORES ICE CORES Scientists study ICE CORES to understand how the climate has changed on Earth. ICE CORES ICE CORES form layers similar to rock. Remember Sedimentary Rocks and the Law of Superposition? – Lower layers are older – Upper layers are younger

ICE CORES Each layer records the concentration of gases in the atmosphere during the time the ice was formed. The ice itself contains elements that existed in Earth’s water at the time. The concentration of gases, like CO₂, and elements like deuterium (heavy form of hydrogen) can provide clues about climate changes over time. Each layer records the concentration of gases in the atmosphere during the time the ice was formed. The ice itself contains elements that existed in Earth’s water at the time. The concentration of gases, like CO₂, and elements like deuterium (heavy form of hydrogen) can provide clues about climate changes over time.

Example of ICE CORES Antarctica – Ice core was drilled that measured 3 km. or 1.86 miles long! Contained air bubbles that showed climate changes for the last 740,000 years. During that time, Earth had 8 Ice Ages Scientists recognized Ice Ages by looking for low levels of deuterium. High levels of CO₂ and deuterium are signs of warmer temps. Antarctica – Ice core was drilled that measured 3 km. or 1.86 miles long! Contained air bubbles that showed climate changes for the last 740,000 years. During that time, Earth had 8 Ice Ages Scientists recognized Ice Ages by looking for low levels of deuterium. High levels of CO₂ and deuterium are signs of warmer temps.

Q: How do ice layers show the history of Earth’s climate? A: Concentrations of gases and elements in the ice can show temperature changes on Earth.

Tree Rings “Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.” ~ St. Bernard of Clairvaux “Trees and stones will teach you that which you can never learn from masters.” ~ St. Bernard of Clairvaux

A tree grows one tree ring for every year that it is alive. Andrew Douglass (1867–1962) was an astronomer who discovered the significance of tree rings. In the early 1900s, Douglass hypothesized that trees might record what Earth’s climate was like in the past. A tree grows one tree ring for every year that it is alive. Andrew Douglass (1867–1962) was an astronomer who discovered the significance of tree rings. In the early 1900s, Douglass hypothesized that trees might record what Earth’s climate was like in the past.

Trees are like history books. Each tree ring is a record of what the environment was like that year. Wide tree rings indicated a very wet year and narrow rings indicated a dry year. Douglass named this new field of science dendrochronology.

The oldest tree on record is a bristlecone pine called “Methuselah.” It is 4,765 years old. These trees grow in the mountains of California. The oldest tree on record is a bristlecone pine called “Methuselah.” It is 4,765 years old. These trees grow in the mountains of California.

Review: What are two ways scientists determine climate changes over time? And how are each used?

Let’s Investigate tree rings! Turn to page 50A in your text