LIFESCI 2H03 Lecture Notes - Solar Cycle, Mount Pinatubo, Medieval Warm Period

• School: McMaster University
• Department: Life Sciences
• Course: LIFESCI 2H03
• Professor: Luc Bernier

Document Summary

Climate archives that contain many indicators of past climate. Climate signals from these indicators is not direct, like reading temperature form a thermometer: e. g. : changes in ice sheet 18o. We can look at trees rings: thicker bands respond to warmer climates, thinner is associated with winter. The position of caco3 in corals, how much of it is present: light corresponds to the summer season and darker bands are associated with the winter season. Ice cores: each of the layers represents a different year. Darker bands correspond to dust, which is carried by wind. Volcanic eruptions can be easily seen (dark bands) Sediments: season changes based on thickness and colouration (light and dark) Dark bands are associated with organic material that has not yet been decomposed (little amount of o2) Light is associated with organic material that has been decomposed (large amount of o2)