Biogeochemistry and Climate

This chapter focuses on tools for climate research: biogeochemical observations and models. It discusses physical climate observations, such as temperature and humidity, and in situ observations of atmospheric composition. Turning these into reliable climate records appears to be non-trivial. The chapter describes how isotopes are used to get insight into biogeochemical processes. A special category of observations is biogeochemical proxy observations, used to gain insight into geological processes when no direct observations are possible. The example of climate proxy observations, such as those obtained via ice cores, is described. Models are increasingly used to gain insight into sensitivity of climate to changes in the forcing. Earth system modelling has become increasingly complex over the last two decades, including often detailed biogeochemical processes in the ocean and on land. The parametrization of these remains an important research subject. Inverse modelling is being used to identify sources and sinks of greenhouse gases.