paleoclimatology

[pey-lee-oh-klahy-muh-tol-uh-jee or, esp. British, pal-ee-]

noun

the branch of paleogeography dealing with the study of paleoclimates.

Origin of paleoclimatology

First recorded in 1915–20; paleo- + climatology

Related formspa·le·o·cli·ma·to·log·i·cal [pey-lee-oh-klahy-muh-tl-oj-i-kuh l or, esp. British, pal-ee-] /ˌpeɪ li oʊˌklaɪ mə tlˈɒdʒ ɪ kəl or, esp. British, ˌpæl i-/, pa·le·o·cli·ma·to·log·ic, adjectivepa·le·o·cli·ma·tol·o·gist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Word Origin and History for paleoclimatology

also paleo-climatology, 1920, from paleo- + climatology. Related: Paleoclimatologist.

Science definitions for paleoclimatology

paleoclimatology

[pā′lē-ō-klī′mə-tŏl′ə-jē]

The scientific study of climatic conditions, along with their causes and effects, in the geologic past. These conditions are reconstructed on the basis of evidence found in the geologic record, especially in the form of glacial deposits, fossils, sediments, and rock and ice cores. Because much of the geologic record studied in paleoclimatology predates humans, this research is valuable for weighing the relative influence of human and natural causes of global climate change. It also provides test situations for computerized climate modeling systems used to predict present-day climate changes.