Finding Ancient Water

What is the talk about?

Caves with their luminous rock formations fascinate both explorers and scientists. But trapped in these glittering crystals are tiny droplets of water that have preserved what rain and snow were like thousands of years ago. Dr. Isabel Montañez shares her fascinating research in creating a timeline for Northern California’s climate history going back nearly 20,000 years.

About our presenter

Dr. Isabel Montañez

Isabel Montañez is a paleoclimatologist whose research focuses on reconstructing past climates, in particular those during major warming periods. Dr. Montañez is a professor at the University of California, Davis. She has been president of the Geological Society of America and currently is the Director of the UC Davis Institute of the Environment.