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# Powerhouse of Paleo

## Climate Science Spotlight

### The USGS leads the field for understanding the causes and consequences of environmental change. Scientists can study ancient climate conditions, paleoclimates, to learn how and why the Earth changed in the past and how ancient life dealt with change.

The USGS is a powerhouse of paleo research because it supports the largest and most multidisciplinary group of scientists who study paleoclimate anywhere. By uncovering how past worlds changed and how life responded, they can help to better understand and prepare for the changes we’re seeing today and predict those to come.

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# Quickly jump to how USGS is delivering climate science:

paleoclimate research

#### paleoclimate research

climate, fire, and humans

#### climate, fire, and humans

hurricanes and climate

#### hurricanes and climate

Delivering Climate Science

# Paleoclimate Research: Lessons from the Past, Roadmap for the Future

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The USGS leads the field of paleoclimatology. The agency supports the largest and most multidisciplinary group of scientists studying ancient climate, called paleoclimatologists, and scientists studying how the interconnected relationships of living things, or ecosystems, interacted with ancient climate, called paleoecologists.

By supporting scientists who study so many different aspects of ancient climate and ancient ecosystems, the USGS can provide foundational science to piece together how changing environmental conditions affected life long ago and what similar environmental change might mean for life today and into the future.

### How do they do it?

For one, they use the fossil record. Additionally, core to the science of studying paleoclimate is often, well, taking cores. Whether from sediment, ice, corals or even trees, scientists can learn a lot about how the Earth and its climate have changed over various timeframes and how life responded by using this sampling method.

From this wealth of knowledge, USGS scientists are able to predict how the ecosystems of today are likely to respond to current and future climate change, which is fundamental to preparing adaptation and mitigation plans. Because of this, USGS paleoclimate research plays a critical role in a growing number of management efforts for critical habitats around the world.

 

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Delivering Climate Science

# Did we start the fire? Climate, Fire and Humans

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The past decade encompasses some of the most extensive fire activity around the world in recorded history. The sparks that kindled these fires are due to both natural and human ignitions. But what was fire activity like before recent warming or modern fire management practices?

USGS paleoclimate science sheds light on fire activity over historic and prehistoric time scales. This can include what caused fires in the past and how climate and human activity influenced fire severity and frequency.

In one USGS project, scientists are studying fire activity in Alaska and the southwestern US over the last two thousand years to determine the influence and interaction of people, climate and ecosystems on fire.

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Delivering Climate Science

# USGS Looks Back 2,000 Years to Study the Relationship Between Hurricanes and Climate

Hurricanes are not new, but USGS science is bringing new insight into how the climate and other environmental factors can influence hurricanes.

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One effort led by the USGS looked back 2,000 years at hurricanes in northwest Florida. During that time, local climate conditions—including sea surface temperatures in portions of the Gulf of Mexico and northern Atlantic Ocean—were similar to today and what is anticipated in the future, though the reasons behind the similar climate conditions differed.

The USGS research suggests northwest Florida experienced more frequent hurricanes during the warm period than that which recorded history shows. The research also supports predictions that the number of intense hurricanes could increase in the future in parts of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean as oceans warm.

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Climate Science Capabilities

# USGS Delivering Climate Science

To policymakers, resource managers, and the public to help guide better decisions for building sustainable resource stewardship across America’s public lands and beyond.

Explore Climate Science

Reducing Risk from Extreme Events with fire icon and hurricane satellite image in background

Impacts on Ecosystems with fish icon and landscape in background

Coal burning stacks with CO2 icon with cloud and "Carbon Emissions and Sequestration"

Water Availability with water droplet icon and image of drought (cracked ground) in the background

Energy and Minerals for the Future with mineral commodity icons with wind turbine field during sunset

Remote Sensing with satellite icon with Landsat image in background

Powerhouse of Paleo with globe icon and glacier image in background

stakeholders gathered with hand-shaking icon with "Climate Science in Action"

                  - Overview  Quickly jump to how USGS is delivering climate science:paleoclimate researchpaleoclimate researchclimate, fire, and humansclimate, fire, and humanshurricanes and climatehurricanes and climateDelivering Climate SciencePaleoclimate Research: Lessons from the Past, Roadmap for the Future- Download Video
Video Transcript        Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The USGS leads the field of paleoclimatology. The agency supports the largest and most multidisciplinary group of scientists studying ancient climate, called paleoclimatologists, and scientists studying how the interconnected relationships of living things, or ecosystems, interacted with ancient climate, called paleoecologists.

By supporting scientists who study so many different aspects of ancient climate and ancient ecosystems, the USGS can provide foundational science to piece together how changing environmental conditions affected life long ago and what similar environmental change might mean for life today and into the future.
How do they do it?
For one, they use the fossil record. Additionally, core to the science of studying paleoclimate is often, well, taking cores. Whether from sediment, ice, corals or even trees, scientists can learn a lot about how the Earth and its climate have changed over various timeframes and how life responded by using this sampling method.

From this wealth of knowledge, USGS scientists are able to predict how the ecosystems of today are likely to respond to current and future climate change, which is fundamental to preparing adaptation and mitigation plans. Because of this, USGS paleoclimate research plays a critical role in a growing number of management efforts for critical habitats around the world.

 
Learn MoreDelivering Climate ScienceDid we start the fire? Climate, Fire and Humans        Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
The past decade encompasses some of the most extensive fire activity around the world in recorded history. The sparks that kindled these fires are due to both natural and human ignitions. But what was fire activity like before recent warming or modern fire management practices?

USGS paleoclimate science sheds light on fire activity over historic and prehistoric time scales. This can include what caused fires in the past and how climate and human activity influenced fire severity and frequency.

In one USGS project, scientists are studying fire activity in Alaska and the southwestern US over the last two thousand years to determine the influence and interaction of people, climate and ecosystems on fire.
Learn MoreDelivering Climate ScienceUSGS Looks Back 2,000 Years to Study the Relationship Between Hurricanes and Climate
Hurricanes are not new, but USGS science is bringing new insight into how the climate and other environmental factors can influence hurricanes.
        Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media DetailsIn this NOAA satellite image from Sept. 15, 2020, Hurricane Sally approaches the U.S. Gulf Coast, Hurricane Paulettte creates storm waves far out in the Atlantic, and Tropical Storms Teddy and Vicky lie near the coast of Africa. Two tropical depressions are also developing; one of them is not visible in this image.
One effort led by the USGS looked back 2,000 years at hurricanes in northwest Florida. During that time, local climate conditions—including sea surface temperatures in portions of the Gulf of Mexico and northern Atlantic Ocean—were similar to today and what is anticipated in the future, though the reasons behind the similar climate conditions differed.

The USGS research suggests northwest Florida experienced more frequent hurricanes during the warm period than that which recorded history shows. The research also supports predictions that the number of intense hurricanes could increase in the future in parts of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean as oceans warm.
Learn MoreClimate Science CapabilitiesUSGS Delivering Climate Science
To policymakers, resource managers, and the public to help guide better decisions for building sustainable resource stewardship across America’s public lands and beyond.
Explore Climate ScienceReducing Risk from Extreme Events with fire icon and hurricane satellite image in backgroundImpacts on Ecosystems with fish icon and landscape in backgroundCoal burning stacks with CO2 icon with cloud and "Carbon Emissions and Sequestration"Water Availability with water droplet icon and image of drought (cracked ground) in the backgroundEnergy and Minerals for the Future with mineral commodity icons with wind turbine field during sunsetRemote Sensing with satellite icon with Landsat image in backgroundPowerhouse of Paleo with globe icon and glacier image in backgroundstakeholders gathered with hand-shaking icon with "Climate Science in Action"