Articles | Volume 9, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-9-275-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/gc-9-275-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Barriers and facilitators for using palaeoclimate evidence in UK climate decision making
Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London, London, TW20 0EW, UK
School of Ocean Science, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, LL59 5AB, UK
Alice Mary Milner
Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London, London, TW20 0EW, UK
Klaus Dodds
Middlesex University, The Burroughs, Hendon, London, NW4 4BT, UK
Celia Martin-Puertas
Department of Geography, Royal Holloway University of London, London, TW20 0EW, UK
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We present a new approach to reconstructing annual mean temperature using geochemical data from lake sediments. This paper uses Bayesian inference, a type of statistical approach, and creates a model called Simulating Climate Using Bayesian Inference with proxy Data Observations (SCUBIDO), which takes the high-resolution geochemical data and transforms them into quantitative climate information at an annual resolution. We show the results from two lakes in England and Finland to produce temperature reconstructions for the past 8000 years with data every year.
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Short summary
Climate decisions are often based on recent measurements, but records of past climates can show how the climate system act over longer periods. This study explored how information about past climates is currently used in UK policy decisions and its limitations in policy. Interviews with policy advisors and climate scientists showed strong interest in using past climate evidence, but poor communication was a limitation. Improving how evidence is shared will help strengthen climate decisions
Climate decisions are often based on recent measurements, but records of past climates can show...
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