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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 NameLab: Vostok Ice Core
DisciplineChemistry, Earth Sciences
Topic(s) in DisciplineAtomic Number, Atomic Mass, Isotopes, Isotopic Ratios, Isotopic Composition in paleoclimate reconstructions
Climate TopicClimate and the Cryosphere, Climate Variability Record
Type of toolLaboratory Activity
Grade LevelUndergraduate
LocationAntarctica
LanguageEnglish
TranslationVostok Station
Developed byStephanie Pfirman, Barnard College
Hosted atColumbia University: The Climate System course taught by Peter Schlosser, Stephanie Pfirman, Mingfang Ting, Jason Smerdon
Link
AccessOnline/Offline
Computer SkillsIntermediate

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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

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