Paleoclimatology: Reconstructing Climates of the Quaternary deals with how climatic variation in the past is
studied and what we know about past changes in climate. The period of interest is the Quaternary (the last ~2 million
years). Understanding how climates have varied in the past, and what may have caused such variations, is important
as we struggle with human-induced climate changes, which will be superimposed on underlying natural climate variations.
Paleoclimatology: Reconstructing Climates of the Quaternary is the second edition of Quaternary Paleoclimatology:
Methods of Paleoclimatic Reconstruction, first published by Allen & Unwin in 1985.
The first edition of Paleoclimatology has been the definitive text in its field for over a decade. Since its
publication, the field of paleoclimatology has exploded, creating a need for an up-to-date treatment of the most
recent research. The timely second edition of Paleoclimatology fills this need, building on the success of the
first edition. It has been completely updated and revised in order to provide the reader with the latest research
on the most current topics in paleoclimatology.
Over half of the material in this book is new. The book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date review of all
of the important methods used in paleoclimatic reconstruction, dating and paleoclimate modeling. Two comprehensive
chapters on dating methods provide the foundation for all paleoclimatic studies. These are followed by up-to-date
coverage of ice core research, continental geological and biological records, pollen analysis, radiocarbon dating,
tree rings and historical records. These chapters include new sections on loess, lake sediments and long continental
pollen records. New methods using alkenones in marine sediments and coral studies are also described. A final chapter
on the use of models in paleoclimatology is included.
This second edition of this work will become an essential textbook for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate
students studying climatology, paleoclimatology and paleooceanography worldwide. It will also form a valuable reference
for lecturers and researchers in these topics, as well as appealing to archaeologists and scientists interested
in environmental change.
Contains two up-to-date chapters on dating methods
Consists of the latest coverage of ice core research, marine sediment and
coral studies, continental geological and biological records, pollen
analysis, tree rings, and historical records
Describes the newest methods using alkenones in marine sediments and long
continental pollen records
Addresses all important methods used in paleoclimatic reconstruction
Includes an extensive chapter on the use of models in paleoclimatology
Extensive and up-to-date bibliography
Illustrated with numerous comprehensive figure captions