ClimateAugust 28, 2026
paleoclimatic
PAY-lee-oh-kly-MAT-ik
Definition
Relating to the climate of past geological ages, particularly as reconstructed from scientific data and physical evidence.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'palaios' (ancient) and the word 'climatic.' It first appeared in mid-19th century scientific literature to describe the study of Earth's historical climates.
In the news
In the article, the term is used to describe evidence derived from Earth's deep history, which helps scientists validate climate models for future projections.
Bette L. Otto-Bliesner on Understanding Earth’s Climate Past to Inform Its Future
Read the full article ↗AMS Headlines