Boreholes
Temperature readings taken down boreholes drilled into the Earth can indicate past temperatures at the surface.
Total number of Boreholes studies: 1016
For the interactive version, please view on a desktop, laptop, or larger device.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration holds over 10,000 records of different climate proxy studies.
Here is just a selection:
Temperature readings taken down boreholes drilled into the Earth can indicate past temperatures at the surface.
Total number of Boreholes studies: 1016
Growth rings and isotope analysis of corals and sponges can indicate past conditions in the oceans.
Total number of Coral and sponges studies: 233
Ice sheets and glaciers contain layers of compacted snow, which traps air bubbles, isotopes and dust over thousands of years. Drilling an ice core provides a cross-section of that climate information.
Total number of Ice cores studies: 344
Marine sediments accumulate on the beds of seas and oceans around the world. The properties and contents of the sediment provide clues to the past climate.
Total number of Marine sediments studies: 870
Commonly preserved in soils and marine and lake sediments, the properties of fossilised plants and the isotopes they contain indicate past climate.
Total number of Plant fossils studies: 296
Tree rings capture the annual growth of a tree, with the width of the rings reflecting the climate conditions of the time.
Total number of Tree rings studies: 5315