reconstruction of past climates

Reconstructing past climates involves studying natural records like tree rings, ice cores, sediment layers, and fossils to infer historical weather patterns and temperatures. These records contain clues—such as growth rings indicating wet or dry years, bubbles of ancient air trapped in ice revealing past atmospheres, or sediments showing changes in vegetation. By analyzing these clues, scientists piece together how Earth's climate has changed over thousands or millions of years. This understanding helps us recognize natural climate variability and assess the influence of human activities on current climate change.