Dr. Peter Wigand, Adam Herrera, Katie Irwin, Robert Kelty, Joseph Scott

Paleoclimatology is the study of ancient regional and global climates. This science is quite intriguing considering the fact that the means of measuring precipitation and temperature were not available. Since it is not possible to go back in time to see what climates were like, how do scientists determine these past climates? … or can we?

Past climates can be reconstructed using a combination of different types of “imprints”, or proxies, created during past climate periods. Proxies include tree rings, ice cores, fossils, pollen, ocean sediments, corals and historical data. …how do we get the data?

Tree-ring cores are taken by using an increment borer to screw into the side of a tree. The cores are sanded, so the surfaces are smooth and the annual tree growth rings can be clearly seen. These are then analyzed for patterns that can be first correlated to modern climate records and then extrapolated to reconstruct ancient climates. By drilling into the earth with a hollow tube sediment is collected in intact cores. These provide an often continuous, undisturbed cross-section of the subsurface stratigraphy. Because pollen grains are composed primarily of a natural plastic, they are often well preserved within each sediment layer collected from the bottom of ponds, lakes, oceans, or other stratified deposits. By analyzing the pollen types recovered, scientists can infer specific environmental conditions each thrived in based upon there modern climatic context.

(Earth Science Textbook Prentice Hall) (Holt McDougal Online)

 Introducing…  Katie Irwin

The Relative Position of Local Biomes with Respect to Global Biomes This dashed square encompasses the biomes of the Bakersfield Area. Modified: Peter Wigand

  ews html

History of past climate activity can be found in Kern County! Join the CSU Bakersfield Paleoteam as they demonstrate how scientists obtain tree core samples.

Assembling the increment borer

Setting and beginning the tree-ring core

Coring the tree from two directions perpendicular to the angle of the slope

Inserting the spoon along the lower surface of the borer, just below the core

Inserting the spoon ….

Removing the spoon with a slow steady movement…oops….

Houston…we have a core….we have a core….

Not all coring always goes according to plan …the spoon is stuck…?$%&

Slipping the core into clear straws for transport back to the tree-ring lab

Now don’t forget to record the pertinent tree location data! Aaaahhhh….this is the life! If only I could spend more time watching others work!

Cross-Dating Tree Rings

Past 2000 Years of Global Historical Temperatures Time Source: Peter Wigand

Source: Time Climate Trends in Past 2000 Years