Both direct and indirect measurements are important for understanding the true scale of climate change. Learn how scientists use indirect evidence to study both modern and past climate change.
Resource Type: Information
To understand how and why the climate has changed in the past scientists study evidence such as ice cores, coral reefs, and more. Learn about different types of paleoclimate proxies and how they tell the story of Earth's past climate.
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IPCC: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Measuring the Climate Effects of Volcanic Eruptions
Methane is an important greenhouse gas. Methane molecules have four hydrogen atoms and one carbon atom.
Mount Tambora and the Year Without a Summer
Ocean Upwelling
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Pollen: More Than Just an Allergen
Climate change research involves numerous disciplines of Earth system science as well as technology, engineering, and programming. To have a complete picture of how the climate changes we rely on direct measurements, proxy data, and computer modeling.
Resource Type: Information
In the right amounts, greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, are helpful, rather than harmful, because they can help regulate the temperature of the planet. The problem is that human activity has led to a dramatic increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.