About Paleoceanography

Paleoceanography is the study of the history of the oceans in the geologic past with regard to circulation, chemistry, biology, geology and patterns of sedimentation and biological productivity. Paleoceanographic studies using environment models and different proxies enable the scientific community to assess the role of the oceanic processes in the global climate by the re-construction of past climate at various intervals. The main sources of information are biogenic and inorganic marine sediments, as well as corals. Biogenic sediment includes planktonic and benthic fossils whereas inorganic sediment includes ice-rafted debris and dust.