Interview with paleoceanographer Petra Dekens for InterSci

Ocean floor core samples and global warming

Can ancient ocean temperature readings actually inform and influence current models of global warming today?

Definitely.

I interviewed Dr. Petra Dekens of SF State University about her work studying core samples of ancient ocean beds. Microscopic shell-forming plankton called forminifera mineralize their shells differently--depending on the ocean temperature at the time. As a result, they have become an incredibly accurate temperature gauge of our oceans throughout the history of the earth.

Dr. Dekens explains that this ancient ocean temperature information can, in turn, be used as baselines for models of global warming today.

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