What does palynology use to reconstruct climate?

Palynology is the study of fossil pollen and spores, and these tiny grains can provide fundamental information about past climates on Earth. Among their many unique and useful properties, pollen and spores are composed of some of the most chemically resistant organic compounds found in nature.

What is used to reconstruct past climates?

In paleoclimatology, or the study of past climates, scientists use what is known as proxy data to reconstruct past climate conditions. These proxy data are preserved physical characteristics of the environment that can stand in for direct measurements.

How is climate reconstructed?

Past climate can be reconstructed using a combination of different types of proxy records. These records can then be integrated with observations of Earth’s modern climate and placed into a computer model to infer past as well as predict future climate.

How can we reconstruct past climates by using pollen?

By analyzing pollen from well-dated sediment cores, scientists can obtain records of changes in vegetation going back hundreds of thousands, and even millions of years. Not only can pollen records tell us about the past climate, but they can also tell us how we are impacting our climate.

How is pollen used as a climate proxy?

Pollen was one of the first climate proxies used by scientists for climate reconstructions. Vegetation produces pollen every year. Each plant genus produces pollen with a distinct shape, size, and surface texture. The pollen travels through the surrounding area and may be washed or blown into lakes and bogs.

Why is it still important to reconstruct past climates?

Part of Hall of Planet Earth. The study of ancient climate is key to understanding how the climate system works–and how it might change in the future. Geologic records going back millions of years show that natural patterns, like shifts in Earth’s orbit, can steer dramatic changes.