Logo Trop1 (1)
Logo Trop1 (1)

Reconstruction of Paleoclimate by Using Isotopic Composition Data

Classroom/Laboratory Activity

A classroom/laboratory activity to learn about the isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen, analyze the isotopic composition of ice, and understand how isotopic compositions can be used to recreate past temperatures and climate.

Students will plot graphs to analyze data from the Vostok ice core in Antarctica, learn about the ice age and the gas age, calculate past temperatures using hydrogen isotope data, and discuss the possible impacts of changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) concentrations on climate.

Use this tool to help your students find answers to:

  1. How can you use hydrogen isotope data in an ice core to determine temperature?
  2. How can the isotopic composition of air bubbles in ice cores be used to recreate past climate?
About Tool
Tool Name Lab: Vostok Ice Core
Discipline Chemistry, Earth Sciences
Topic(s) in Discipline Atomic Number, Atomic Mass, Isotopes, Isotopic Ratios, Isotopic Composition in paleoclimate reconstructions
Climate Topic Climate and the Cryosphere, Climate Variability Record
Type of tool Laboratory Activity
Grade Level Undergraduate
Location Antarctica
Language English
Translation Vostok Station
Developed by Stephanie Pfirman, Barnard College
Hosted at Columbia University: The Climate System course taught by Peter Schlosser, Stephanie Pfirman, Mingfang Ting, Jason Smerdon
Link
Access Online/Offline
Computer Skills Intermediate

All maps & pedagogical tools are owned by the corresponding creators, authors or organizations as listed on their websites. Please view the individual copyright and ownership details for each tool using the links provided. We do not claim ownership of or responsibility or liability for any of these tools. Images copyrights remain with the respective owners.
TROP ICSU is a project of the International Union of Biological Sciences and Centre for Sustainability, Environment and Climate Change, FLAME University.

Copyright © 2023 TROP ICSU, All rights reserved. Design and Developed by DWPlaceSolutions

SUBSCRIBE

To Subscribe to our newsletter please enter

No thanks.