Reconstructing the past to forecast how climate change may alter our future

The scientific world all agrees – climate change is real, it’s here and it is something we need to know more about. As the climate on Earth changes – everything from temperatures, weather patterns, wind rain and snow will all in some way or another be altered. Even minor and fractional adjustments in some aspects of climate may result in drastic differences to temperatures, precipitation, ocean levels and ecology.

In order for us to understand the impacts of climate change and to try and predict how populations will have to adapt scientists at the University of Mary Washington are currently working on a long-term project to re -construct past climate by looking at the geochemistry of oyster shells.

This research could prove vital as the Chesapeake Bay region is expected to experience more extremes in precipitation with human-caused warming, so more heavy rain events and more prolonged drought events. These changes in rainfall will cause drastic swings in salinity in the Bay from changes in the freshwater river input.

It’s important research and the experts at the University of Mary Washington are available to help explain how oyster shells may hold the answer to the region’s future climate challenges.

Dr. Pamela Grothe is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences as the University of Mary Washington and is an expert on climate change. Dr. Grothe is available to speak with media regarding this subject – simply click on her icon to arrange an interview.

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