Studying Ice Cores
Ice cores extracted from glaciers and ice caps contain more climate information than any other proxy record.
Snow fall accumulation throughout the year creates layers in the glaciers. An ice core sample can contain thousands of years of climate data.
Teams of scientists travel to remote areas to drill down deep into the ice to obtain ice cores.
Cores are packed in insulation for shipping and then stored in a lab that is -35 degrees Celsius.
Comparing layers in the ice reveals changes in temperature and precipitation. Tiny bubbles in the ice preserve bits of ancient atmosphere that can be analyzed in the lab. An ice core sample can even record volcanic eruptions and solar variability.