The dynamic nature of the Earth’s climate allows scientists to use past climate changes as indicators as to what may be expected under future climate scenarios. Scientists use proxy records derived from sources such as tree rings, ice cores, and aquatic/terrestrial sediments to better understand the causes, dynamics, and impacts of past climate changes. This knowledge is used to assess the implications of present and future climate change scenarios, which help to guide adaptation strategies.

Current Activities

• National Syntheses of Environmental Change
• Glacial History, Paleo-geography, and Paleo-environments of North America
• Extreme Changes in Great Lakes Paleo-levels in the Early Holocene
• Rapid Climate Changes and Extreme Events on the Pacific Coast
• Ice-core Based Studies of Climate Change and Atmospheric Changes
• Sea-ice History of the Northwest Passage
• Assessing Historical Hydro-climatic Changes in Boreal Quebec
• Assessing the Frequency, Severity and Causes of Extreme Droughts and Low Flows in the Winnipeg River Basin

Additional Information

• How do the cycles and modes of the Pacific Ocean affect the water cycle?
• Water Levels in the Great Lakes: A Cross-border Problem

The North / Communities/ Coasts/ Water Resources / Satellite Climate Data / Past Climate Changes