Ice Core Lab: Natural Variability: Paleoclimate on Millennial Timescales

CategoryIce Core Science
Science Standards1) Science and Engineering Practices: Asking Questions and Defining Problems; Planning and Carrying Out Investigations; Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Engaging in Argument from Evidence. 2) Disciplinary Core Ideas: Matter and its Interaction; Earth and Human Activity. 3) Cross Cutting Concepts: Patterns; Cause and Effect: Mechanism and Explanation; Scale, Proportion, and Quantity; Systems and System Models; Energy and Matter: Flows, Cycles, and Conservation; Stability and Change.
File TypeGoogle Doc
Description This lab is an engaging hands-on activity demonstrating that CO2 is a direct measurement while hydrogen isotopes are used as a proxy for temperature measurements. Through the study of ice cores, scientists have developed a continuous record of CO2 and temperature records going back 800,000 years. Requires freezer space and several days of freezing time.

Ice Core Lab: Natural Variability: Paleoclimate on Millennial Timescales

A proxy is a substitute for an actual measurement. CO2 data from ice cores is not proxy data because the CO2 record is derived from measurements of ancient air bubbles trapped in ice. However, ice core temperature data is derived from a proxy. Isotope measurements of the water molecules that make up the ice reveal past temperature changes. In this lab, students will take on the role of scientists as they examine assigned layers of frozen ice core models and extract CO2 data and hydrogen isotopes. Together, the class will build a 20,000 year climate record.