Paleoclimate Reconstruction Lab

Environmental Literacy and Inquiry Working Group at Lehigh University

In this activity, students reconstruct past climates using lake varves as a proxy to interpret long-term climate patterns. Students use data from sediment cores to understand annual sediment deposition and how it relates to weather and climate patterns.

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Instructors may want to do the lab exercise before showing the PowerPoint. Access to the assessment can easily requested via an email from the developers.
Students are introduced to examples of paleoclimate proxies. Students use data from lake sediment cores to understand seasonal climate changes and environmental conditions. Students learn about varves, which are seasonal layers in lake sediments. Students use scientific data, and teacher notes contain the relevant diagrams of ice extent; however, the actual data source is not cited. Comments from expert scientist: Activity is based on real data and involves measuring and graphing, which are important skills students need.
The activity uses PowerPoint slides, handouts, and supplemental reading documents. Educators can use this lesson to help students learn how scientists use proxies to interpret past climate. PowerPoint file gives a great overview with lots of images on varve chronology. Good background materials for teachers. Student handouts are complete and available in pdf and Word format, which allows a teacher to tweak them to the needs of each class.