Climate Change Resources

Search through the collection of expeditions, blogs, and resources specific to the topic of climate change.

Climate Change Expeditions

Sediment drifts in the eastern Fram Strait hold vital clues to understanding our climate's past. Expedition 403 seeks to get to the bottom of those clues starting early June. Led by Renata Giulia Lucchi and Kristen St. John, the goal is to drill at six primary sites along the western shore of Svalbard’s largest land mass.

Expedition 401 is part of the larger Investigating Miocene Mediterranean-Atlantic Exchange (IMMAGE) Project—a collaboration between the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP). This expedition aims to identify when the Atlantic first began to receive water flowing out of the Mediterranean with distinctly different physical and chemical properties, understand the cause of the Mediterranean salt giant and its climatic consequences, and test hypotheses around how water with extremely contrasting densities mix in the ocean and improving the numerical representation of this process in ocean circulation models.

Expedition 400 patch. Greenland ice sheet, JOIDES ship, and ocean sediments.

Scientists on Expedition 395 will be sampling the Reykjanes Ridge to explore the relationships between deep Earth processes, ocean circulation, and climate, the research team hopes to shed light on the complex interplay between these fundamental components of Earth.

The South Atlantic Transect is a multidisciplinary investigation along a crustal flow line across the western flank of the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The work will span across two expeditions, Exp. 390 and 393.

The International Ocean Discovery Program drilling cruise to the Agulhas Plateau will investigate the interplay between changes in global climate, ocean depth and ocean circulation. It aims to recover first-ever deep geologic samples from this large oceanic plateau situated approximately 500km south of South Africa.

Expedition 396 will explore the mid-Norwegian margin to uncover the role of rifted continental margins in creating extreme but short-lived volcanic events and triggering episodes of global warming.

Thumbnail Image for IODP Expedition 378 Patch

Scientist on this expedition will investigate the Pliocene-Pleistocene atmosphere-ocean-cryosphere dynamics of the Pacific Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC), and their role in regional and global climate and atmospheric CO2 based on sediment records with the highest possible stratigraphic resolution.

This expedition will explore changes in the Antarctic Ice Sheet over long time periods by studying sediment deposited by icebergs and changes in sea ice, ocean currents, and winds.

thumbnail image for the School of Rock 2018 in New Zealand

Deep into the Cretaceous hothouse period

The School of Rock 2016: Exploring Ocean Cores and Climate Connections: From Antarctica Across the Southern Ocean was a professional development opportunity for formal and informal educators.

Expedition 371 aims is to improve the understanding of the role of plate tectonics in global climate evolution over the past 60 million years. To achieve this, the expedition primarily focuses on obtaining a precise date and metics which will allow the testing of alternate geodynamic models.

The scientists on this expedition hoped to learn (1) how sediments, fluids and chemicals move and cycle through the earth’s crust; (2) the role of tectonics and mud volcanoes in transporting fluids and sediments in subduction zones; and (3) how these physical and chemical movements impact living organisms.

Scientists gain a greater understanding of past climates and ocean currents by examining the core samples, the types of plankton and the make up of their shells from this area.

The JOIDES Resolution drilled six sites on the southeast African margin and Indian–Atlantic ocean gateway to better understand the relationship between the Agulhas Current -- the strongest western boundary current in the Southern Hemisphere -- and the development of climate in southern Africa during the Pliocene/Pleistocene periods.

Studying core samples from this region assisted in the reconstruction of the paleooceanographic evolution over the past 23 million years, aiding in our understanding of climate change.

The JOIDES Resolution investigated the northwest Australian shelf to answer questions about tectonics, Australian monsoon, and the development of ocean currents in this region.

Scientists sought to understand the interaction between the Himalayas and Tibetan plateau uplift and the development and evolution of the Indian summer monsoon.

Scientists explored the relations between the growth of the Himalaya, the development of the monsoon cycle, and past global climate.

By studying the foraminifera in the sediment, scientists uncovered the mysteries of the past climate and changes in monsoon activity.

Scientists explored the evidence of glacial erosion and established the timing of advance and retreat cycles of ice sheets in the Southern Alaska Margin.

Scientists explored the development and evolution of monsoon patterns and their relationship to past changes in the Japan sea.

In 1912 the Titanic collided with an iceberg in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. 100 years later, Expedition 342 wanted to discover past climate conditions that led to the Arctic ice that sank the unsinkable.

Scientists studied the sediments deposited by the MOW in the Gulf of Cadiz and the SW Portuguese continental margin to understand the opening of the Gibraltar Gateway, the onset of the MOW, and its influence on the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation, sea level changes and past climate oscillations.

Scientists took cores from the seafloor to investigate when and why the ice sheet started growing on Antarctica and how the ice sheet has grown and melted during the last 35 million years.

Scientists collected sediments from the relatively isolated Bering sea to examine the extent and causes of past climate changes.

Expedition 320: Pacific Equatorial Age Transit Part1 began in Honolulu, Hawaii on 5 March 2009 and ended on the 5th of May when Expedition 321 began. Together, the expeditions investigated equatorial climate change tens of millions of years ago.

Climate Change News

The JR’s indispensable underwater camera – video

The JR’s Underwater Camera – an essential part of the drilling/science operation Without an underwater camera, a driller’s job would…

GUEST BLOG: Adam Woodhouse – Micro Paleontologist

My primary field of research is the mechanistic drivers of evolution and extinction within single-celled marine organisms from the Cenozoic era (the last…

How do we know that the world was once covered by a thick ice cap?

Our co-chief scientist Laura had a go at the simple science challenge — she didn’t manage to keep within the…

Classroom Activities About Climate Change

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5-8
9-12
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K-4
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Microscope image of sediment from an Expedition 395 core.

Using Image Data to Explore Paleoclimate

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Iceberg of Antarctica Book

Inspired by Expedition 382, Iceberg Alley, Iceberg of Antarctica follows an iceberg’s formation and journey from snowfall, to ice stream…

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Antarctic Log Comic – Expedition 379: Amundsen Sea

A team of 116 ship crew, scientists, technicians, and communicators took to the Amundsen Sea, Antarctica’s fastest-warming sea aboard the…

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Antarctica and Neogene Global Climate Change

In this chapter you will build basic geographic and geologic knowledge of Antarctica and use geologic reasoning. In Part 11.1, you will…

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thumbnail image of the Tale of Two Teeth lesson plan

A Tale of Two Teeth

This lesson is a storytelling activity—a story that has characters (including a villain), a series of mysteries (starting with unexplained…

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The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) in Review

Since 1968, scientific ocean drilling has tapped into a considerable archive of Earth history, and in doing so has revealed…

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Tahitian Sea Level Change Core (IODP 310)

The two 30cm replicas of 310-20A-22R-2 display coral sandstone and massive coral (Porites) in growth position with interbedded microbiolites (organosedimentary…

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Saanich Inlet Core Model (ODP 178)

The sediment cored at Saanich Inlet off Vancouver Island, British Columbia contains evidence of catastrophic flooding events – called Jokulhlaups…

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Palmer Deep Core Model (ODP 178)

This model shows seasonal layers (laminae) composed of different diatoms species that were deposited during the late Holocene and provides…

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Glacial / Interglacial Core Model (IODP 303)

Expedition 303 drilled cores from the North Atlantic that helped build a timeline of climate change over the last several…

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Cretaceous Impact Kit (ODP 171B)

General Introduction Cretaceous Impact Kit: Introduce the JOIDES Resolution research vessel and scientific ocean drilling Demonstrate how cores and sediment…

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Recognizing Patterns In Earth’s Climate History Lesson Plan

The Glacial Interglacial Core Model contains evidence of a shift from an interglacial to a glacial period approximately 0.9 million years ago. This core can be loaned out for your educational needs.

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Tales of the Resolution Reading Activities

These educational activities are designed to support mastery of the College and Career Readiness anchor standards identified in the Common Core State Standards…

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Video Guide JR Time Machine

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Interpreting Antarctic Sediment Cores

This set of investigations focuses on the use of sedimentary facies (lithologies interpreted to record particular depositional environments) to interpret paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic changes in Neogene sediment cores from the Antarctic margin. In Part 12.1, you wil

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Episode 4: Arctic Rainforest

This is a product of Borehole Research Group, to see more Click Here!

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Blast from the Past

The Blast from the Past poster activities allow students to discover Earth’s history through hands-on activities and simulations. This poster’s vivid images and clear text portray the story of a large asteroid that collided with Earth sixty five million years ago at the present-day site of the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. This impact created the Chicxulub crater.

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Window on Arctic Coring

The question “Why Drill there?” is addressed at multiple levels, so students can experience the scientific rationale behind drilling the sea floor at a particular location. A subset of research results are also investigated and compared with the current scientific paradigm on Cenozoic climate evolution to demonstrate that science is an evolving process.

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Like a Bolt from the Blue

Utilizing a series of clathrate structures, the poster reveals new windows of scientific research currently being performed in the complex study of gas hydrates. By visualizing the face of each clathrate structure through an image, the poster simplifies chemical concepts, enabling students to learn

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Inquiry into Ice Core and Marine Sediment Records

Studying global climate involves collecting ice and sediment cores from key sites and comparing the response and timing of climate change among sensitive regions

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Climate Change Expeditions

Climate Change News

The JR’s indispensable underwater camera – video

GUEST BLOG: Adam Woodhouse – Micro Paleontologist

How do we know that the world was once covered by a thick ice cap?

Classroom Activities About Climate Change

Using Image Data to Explore Paleoclimate

Iceberg of Antarctica Book

Antarctic Log Comic – Expedition 379: Amundsen Sea

Antarctica and Neogene Global Climate Change

A Tale of Two Teeth

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) in Review

Tahitian Sea Level Change Core (IODP 310)

Saanich Inlet Core Model (ODP 178)

Palmer Deep Core Model (ODP 178)

Glacial / Interglacial Core Model (IODP 303)

Cretaceous Impact Kit (ODP 171B)

Recognizing Patterns In Earth’s Climate History Lesson Plan

Tales of the Resolution Reading Activities

Video Guide JR Time Machine

Interpreting Antarctic Sediment Cores

Episode 4: Arctic Rainforest

Blast from the Past

Window on Arctic Coring

Like a Bolt from the Blue

Inquiry into Ice Core and Marine Sediment Records

A Reader’s Guide to Climate Change

Secrets of the Sediments

Mohawk Guy and his Band of Neogene Planktic Foraminifer Friends

It’s Sedimentary, My Dear Watson