Paleoceanography

Paleoceanography is the study of the history of the Earth's oceans. Scientists who study paleoceanography look at things like fossils, sediment, and rocks that are found in and around the ocean to figure out what the ocean was like a long time ago.

First, they collect samples of sediment or rock from the ocean floor using special tools like drills or submersibles. Then, they study the samples to learn more about the conditions of the ocean in the past.

Some of the things they might look for in these samples are the shells of tiny organisms that lived in the ocean, called plankton. By studying these shells, scientists can tell what the temperature of the ocean was like at the time they lived. They might also look for evidence of volcanic eruptions, which can affect the chemistry of the ocean.

By studying the history of the Earth's oceans, paleoceanographers can learn more about how the planet has changed over time and how these changes have affected life on Earth.