Paleoclimatology (British spelling: palaeoclimatology) is the scientific study of climates from times before weather tools were invented, when no direct measurements were possible. Since weather records only cover a small part of Earth’s history, studying ancient climates helps scientists understand natural changes and how today’s climate has developed. Paleoclimatology uses clues from nature, such as rocks, sediments, ice sheets, tree rings, and shells, to learn about past climates.
In the study of past climates (“paleoclimatology”), scientists use climate proxies—physical clues from the past—to understand weather and climate conditions before direct measurements were recorded. Reliable global climate records began in the 1880s, but before that, proxies are the only way to learn about Earth’s climate history. Many types of climate proxies have been studied from different geological sources.
The UAH satellite temperature dataset was created by the University of Alabama in Huntsville. It estimates the temperature of different layers in the atmosphere by using satellite data that measures how oxygen emits microwave signals. This data comes from Microwave Sounding Unit measurements.
Berkeley Earth is a non-profit organization based in Berkeley, California. It focuses on analyzing land temperature data to help scientists understand climate change. The group was started in early 2010 and was first called the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature project.
The United States National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), which was once called the National Weather Records Center (NWRC), is located in Asheville, North Carolina. It was the biggest collection of weather information in the world. In 2015, the NCDC merged with two other government agencies that collect environmental data to become the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).
The European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) is an organization run by many European countries. It has three locations: Shinfield Park in Reading, United Kingdom; Bologna, Italy; and Bonn, Germany. The ECMWF uses one of the largest supercomputer centers in Europe and holds the world’s largest collection of weather data used for predictions.
The Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) is one of six specialized services offered by the European Union’s Copernicus Programme. The Copernicus Programme is managed by the European Commission, and the C3S is carried out by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The purpose of the Copernicus Climate Change Service is to create an EU knowledge base to support policies that help reduce and prepare for the effects of climate change and global warming.
Earth observation (EO) is the process of collecting data about Earth’s natural systems, such as its physical, chemical, and living parts. This can be done using tools that sense from a distance, like Earth observation satellites, or through tools that make direct contact, such as those placed on the ground or in the air (like weather stations and weather balloons). According to the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), Earth observation includes both data collected from space or through remote sensing and data gathered directly on Earth.
The permafrost carbon cycle, also called the Arctic carbon cycle, is part of the larger global carbon cycle. Permafrost is underground material that stays below 0°C (32°F) for at least two years in a row. Because permafrost remains frozen for long periods, it holds large amounts of carbon and other nutrients inside its frozen ground during that time.
Climate change feedbacks are natural processes that affect how much global temperatures will rise based on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Positive feedbacks increase global warming, while negative feedbacks reduce it. Feedbacks influence both the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and the amount of temperature change that occurs.