Imprints: Lake and archive diving with Atreyee Bhattacharya

Imprints: Lake and archive diving with Atreyee Bhattacharya

Author: Mongabay.com December 8, 2022 Duration: 30:11

It is fascinating how scientists unearth data for climate science in unusual locations. Atreyee Bhattacharya's work takes her to lakebeds and libraries. She's a paleoclimatologist who looks back at past climates to develop the context for understanding recent climate change.

She analyses sediments drilled from old lakes and scours British archival records to reconstruct past rainfall changes. This aids in predictions of future climates.

"Without paleoclimate research, we just wouldn't know that we are in a climate crisis."

She looks at paleoclimatology as a guidebook to human society - when did humans prosper and didn't due to climatic factors? Using this knowledge, scientists can work with policymakers to mitigate adverse outcomes.

In this episode of Imprints, Atreyee talks about the toolkit for her profession, her work with economists to understand past famines, the importance of paleoclimatology and the challenges it faces.

Guest: Atreyee Bhattacharya, Research Faculty, University of Colorado, Boulder

Host and producer: Sahana Ghosh

Co-producer and cover designer: Kartik Chandramouli

Audio editor: Tejas Dayanand Sagar

Copy editors: Sapna Verma and Priyanka Shankar

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Show notes:

Atreyee Bhattacharya

Most famines in south India under British rule due to minor rainfall fluctuations, rather than extreme events

A paleoclimate database for the Indian subcontinent

 


From the team at Mongabay.com comes Everything Environment by Mongabay India, a podcast that digs into the complex and often overlooked stories shaping India's natural world. This isn't just about headlines; it's about connecting the dots between biodiversity, climate change, and the natural resources that underpin daily life across the subcontinent. Each episode is a deep dive, whether it's examining the real-world impacts of the country's clean energy transition, uncovering lessons from ancient paleoscience, or giving a voice to lesser-known species fighting for survival. The conversations move beyond abstract problems to focus on tangible solutions and the people on the front lines. By weaving science and news into compelling narrative, this podcast places environmental discussions exactly where they belong: central to our understanding of India's present and future. You'll hear clear analysis and on-the-ground reporting that makes intricate topics accessible, fostering a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of ecology, policy, and community. For anyone curious about the forces shaping our environment, this series offers essential listening.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 28

Everything Environment by Mongabay India
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