Ice cores are cylindrical samples extracted from ice sheets or glaciers that provide valuable climate data by trapping atmospheric gases, particles, and isotopes over time. They are crucial for understanding past climate changes, offering insights into Earth's climate history up to hundreds of thousands of years ago.

Ice Cores

Ice cores

cylindrical samples

ice sheets

glaciers

climate data

Atmospheric gases are the mixture of gases surrounding Earth, primarily composed of nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, and trace gases, playing a crucial role in sustaining life and regulating the planet's climate. These gases interact with solar radiation and Earth's surface, influencing weather patterns and the greenhouse effect, which is vital for maintaining temperatures suitable for life.

atmospheric gases

particles

Isotopes are variants of a chemical element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, resulting in different atomic masses. These differences in neutron count can lead to variations in stability and radioactive properties, making isotopes useful in fields like medicine, archaeology, and nuclear energy.

isotopes

past climate changes

Earth's climate history

Exploring the Science and Evidence Behind Global Warming

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