Ep.53 – Paleoclimatology with Nicolas Randazzo

Planet B612

In this episode, we talk about how we know the climate is changing, as well as how and why we study past climates.We also explore things like mass extinction events, isotopes, and science communication.

• (0:01:06) So many specialities.
• (0:01:51) Turonian Global sea levels: Was there ice?
• (0:03:45) Geochemical proxies: Helping reconstruct climate.
• (0:04:49) Milankovitch cycles and our wobbly Earth.
• (0:05:56) Our dependence on the other planets: A synergy that keeps us alive.
• (0:07:26) Mars: A butterfly effect.
• (0:08:23) Predictions and the climate archives.
• (0:09:05) Global warming today: Undoubtedly caused by humans.
• (0:10:50) The climate archives: Ice cores, gas bubbles and pollen records.
• (0:12:45) Energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence: How it helps us learn.
• (0:13:43) Radioactive isotopes vs stable isotopes.
• (0:14:30) Isotopes: What are they and what are we looking for?
• (0:16:41) How isotopes show climate changes in the past: The ice record and corals.
• (0:18:04) Field trips and the Niagara Escarpment fossils.
• (0:21:11) Focusing on global warming: Studying the rock record.
• (0:22:15) Carbon isotopes and what they tell us.
• (0:26:03) The effects of depleted carbon: A unique signature.
• (0:27:11) What does this mean for the atmosphere and the Earth itself?
• (0:31:19) The wobbly Moon and tidal sea level rise.
• (0:32:43) Science communication: Should it be a requirement?
• (0:34:41) Communicating in science: The importance of understanding the Why.
• (0:37:38) Moving to alternate fuel sources: Will it make a difference?
• (0:41:11) Climate cycles and C02: How the Arctic cooled.
• (0:42:38) Plankton, trapped carbon and bacteria: Cycles of oxygen levels.
• (0:44:31) Mass extinction events: Why we need to care because the Earth doesn't.
• (0:46:36) Educating the public about climate change: One of many passions.
• (0:48:04) Working in forensics: A possible branching out.
• (0:49:31) Film criticism, stories and other interests.
• (0:50:46) Indiana Jones and Archeology in film: An untapped potential.
• (0:51:44) The artistic mindset: How art can make you think differently.
• (0:53:45) Classical art and appreciating the detail.

Follow Nic on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Nic_Randazzo Visit Nic’s website: https://www.nicolasrandazzo.com/ Visit Planet B612 on the web: http://planetb612.fm/ Follow Planet B612 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlanetB612fm