Paleoclimate

Earth has experienced tremendous climate change, from icehouse to hothouse states and back again, over time spans of millions of years to mere decades. The geologic record preserves a vital, but incomplete, account of Earth’s climate history. Understanding this record is the primary goal of the paleoclimate research.

Together with the U-M Department of Geology, we study past climates and how they can provide valuable insights into the climate system, its variability, and its vulnerability. In many instances, lessons learned from the past have direct implications for present and future climates. We employ a variety of tools, including a hierarchy of climate models, to explore the causes and consequences of past climate change..