Below you will find brief descriptions and links to several inquiry-based investigations related to paleoclimatology. Each investigation provides a short case study that summarizes an example of a real problem in science for you to explore with climate simulation data. Many of these investigations take an interdisciplinary approach. Follow the links to the activities.

TOPICS: biology, paleontology, climatology, paleoclimatology

DESCRIPTION: What would you do if you found a crocodile fossil where you know crocodiles do not live? This investigation will lead you to consider the climate conditions of the Eocene period by examining the life zone of modern crocodiles and inferring information about the past climate of a region given fossil evidence.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

1. What is the habitat of a crocodile?

2. Where did crocodiles live 50 million years ago?

3. What do current climate models suggest the temperatures were like 50 million years ago (in the Eocene period)?

TOPICS: climatology, paleoclimatology

DESCRIPTION: What would you do if you found a crocodile fossil where you know crocodiles do not live? This investigation will lead you to consider the climate conditions of the Eocene period by examining the life zone of modern crocodiles and inferring information about the past climate of a region given fossil evidence.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS:

1. What is the habitat of a crocodile?

2. Where did crocodiles live 50 million years ago?

3. What do current climate models suggest the temperatures were like 50 million years ago (in the Eocene period)?