Paleoclimatology

The paleoclimatology is the science which studies the Climatologie era S passed, on thousands or million years. By providing total or local indicators climate passed, paleoclimatology feeds the debate on various current topics, the such Global warming.

The term “paleoclimate” indicates a old Climat, in opposition to the current climate, on a geological times scale. The study of the Flora S and the fauna S fossils as a paléoformes is at the origin of paleoclimatology. One in addition tried to establish the general environmental conditions with a period given, in particular in term of paléotempératures. The astronomical Théorie of the paleoclimates aims at integrating sedimentological information with the astronomical determinants (variation of the insolation) to reconstitute coherent paleoclimates with the other data of the Histoire of the Earth (Plate tectonics evolution, , etc)

Total temperature variations

The variations of the isotopic composition of the Oxygène (for example in tests of Foraminifère S) constitutes a climatic indicator (“proxy”) which signs the variations in the temperature of the Océan S and the quantity of ice (Inlandsis). They made it possible to reconstitute the total variations of temperature since 550 million years. These data are in agreement with the glacial episodes raised in the sedimentary rocks (Tillite S), as well as the data Paléobotanique S, and of concentration of Carbone in the atmosphere. Today, the total climate is during one moderate time Interglaciaire. Paleontological studies showed that for long periods (Crétacé, higher Miocène…), the total climate was hotter than currently.

Bond interns

External bonds

  • In video on Channel IRD: Paleoclimatology through the shells of stoups
  • Claire Waelbroeck, paleoclimatologist (12 minutes)

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