Asked by poppy

What can scientists learn from the chemical isotopes in leftover shells of foraminifera about the climate at the time the foraminifera lived?(1 point)
Responses

They can estimate the ocean's temperature.
They can estimate the ocean's temperature.

They can calculate the amount of rainfall.
They can calculate the amount of rainfall.

They can calculate the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.
They can calculate the amount of carbon dioxide in the air.

They can estimate the air temperature.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
They can estimate the ocean's temperature.

Explanation: Oxygen and other isotopic ratios in foraminifera shells (e.g., δ18O, Mg/Ca) change with seawater temperature, so scientists use them to reconstruct past ocean temperatures.