Analyses of tree rings, clam shells and fish ear stones from the last century could help university researchers better predict drought in the future.
The University of Saskatchewan’s isotope laboratory, created in 2000 and the only one of its kind in Canada, uses chemical and robotic sampling methods to recover environmental records.
“We’re never going to be able to tell if there’s a drought but that it’s likely that it will happen,” said Bill Patterson, lab director and a geological science professor.
He said the old system of using limestone rock to determine carbon dioxide levels is flawed because it does not record the amount in the atmosphere.
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That means researchers today are really starting from scratch.
“We hope to provide real empirical data to determine what happened in the past and explain what will happen in the future,” he said. “We can get records you can’t get elsewhere.”
In support of these studies, Talisman Energy announced a $300,000 donation to create a research program. Talisman chief executive officer Jim Buckee said pinning blame for global warming solely on carbon dioxide is “well wide of the mark.”
He said there is a need for a greater understanding of climate change and cited a worldwide shortage of students entering engineering and science faculties.
“The supply of oil is getting very tight and we will need more people coming in,” Buckee said.
Patterson said universities lose many graduates to the oil patch every year.
He is hoping the additional funding and higher profile of the isotope lab’s work will entice a few to stay.
“We have the equipment to do the work. We need the people,” he said. “The more people we have, the more work we can do.”
The isotope lab can provide high resolution records to predict rainfall or assess the health of duck or fish populations.
Patterson said the weather is something everyone cares about from farmers to city managers.
“If we can tell farmers when there will be more precipitation, it can result in substantial savings,” he said.
“If we can tell people this (flooding) is a serious threat, they can prepare for it.”
