Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

What is Climate?

What is Climate?

Climate refers to the prevailing weather conditions in a specific area over an extended period. As the saying goes, “Climate is what you expect. Weather is what you get.” Climate is influenced by geographic factors, such as latitude, terrain, and proximity to bodies of water.

Global Climate Change

Global Climate Change

Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.

Conditions on Early Earth

Conditions on Early Earth

Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.

What is Evolutionary History?

What is Evolutionary History?

Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.

The Fossil Record

The Fossil Record

The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...

Conditions on Early Earth

Conditions on Early Earth

Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Muscle Loss is Associated with Risk of Orthostatic Hypotension in Older Men and Women.

The Journal of frailty & aging·2021

Same author

Accuracy of Body Mass Index Versus Lean Mass Index for Prediction of Sarcopenia in Older Women.

The Journal of frailty & aging·2018

Same author

Characterization of pulmonary function in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Pediatric pulmonology·2015

Same author

Palaeontological data and identifying mass extinctions.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011

Same author

Reply from m.j. Benton.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011

Same author

Models for the diversification of life.

Trends in ecology & evolution·2011

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 7, 2026

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Published on: July 3, 2016

Polar dinosaurs and ancient climates.

¹Dept of Geology, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

|January 15, 2011

Summary

Dinosaur discoveries in polar regions challenge assumptions about their warm-adapted nature. Evidence suggests dinosaurs were either endothermic or migrated vast distances to survive polar conditions.

Area of Science:

Paleontology
Paleoclimatology
Dinosaur Biology

Background:

Dinosaur skeletons have been unearthed in Arctic and Antarctic Circles.
These findings challenge the traditional view of dinosaurs as exclusively warm-adapted creatures.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the implications of polar dinosaur discoveries on our understanding of dinosaur physiology and behavior.
To reconcile paleontological findings with geological evidence of past polar climates.

Main Methods:

Analysis of dinosaur fossil distribution.
Review of geological data on paleoclimate in polar regions.
Evaluation of hypotheses on dinosaur thermoregulation and migration.

Main Results:

More Related Videos

Using Generative Art to Convey Past and Future Climate Transitions

Using Generative Art to Convey Past and Future Climate Transitions

Published on: March 31, 2023

Reconstructing Terrestrial Paleoclimate and Paleoecology with Fossil Leaves Using Digital Leaf Physiognomy and Leaf Mass Per Area

Reconstructing Terrestrial Paleoclimate and Paleoecology with Fossil Leaves Using Digital Leaf Physiognomy and Leaf Mass Per Area

Published on: October 25, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 7, 2026

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Removal of Exogenous Materials from the Outer Portion of Frozen Cores to Investigate the Ancient Biological Communities Harbored Inside

Published on: July 3, 2016

Using Generative Art to Convey Past and Future Climate Transitions

Using Generative Art to Convey Past and Future Climate Transitions

Published on: March 31, 2023

Reconstructing Terrestrial Paleoclimate and Paleoecology with Fossil Leaves Using Digital Leaf Physiognomy and Leaf Mass Per Area

Reconstructing Terrestrial Paleoclimate and Paleoecology with Fossil Leaves Using Digital Leaf Physiognomy and Leaf Mass Per Area

Published on: October 25, 2024

Fossil evidence indicates dinosaur presence in high-latitude polar regions.
Geological data suggests polar areas were colder than previously assumed.
This creates a dichotomy regarding dinosaur adaptation to cold and darkness.

Conclusions:

Dinosaurs found in polar regions may have been fully endothermic (warm-blooded).
Alternatively, these dinosaurs might have undertaken extensive annual migrations to escape polar winters.
Further research is needed to definitively determine the palaeobiology of polar dinosaurs.