Methods of Mid- and Low-Latitude Glacial Record Collection, Analysis, and Interpretation

Because the majority of the word’s population live at mid- and low-latitudes, it is vital to understand how the environment is changing, on local, regional, and global scales. Mid- and low-latitude glaciers provide a unique opportunity to look at how the environment has changed in the past, how it is changing today, and to project possible changes in the future. The study of mid- and low-latitude glacial ice is not simple, but the process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting such ice has been, and continues to be, refined. New techniques, lower analytical detection levels, and expanded studies have provided a solid foundation on which to base the wealth of data recorded in mid- and low-latitude glaciers, which in turn facilitates application of the information obtained to societal problems and resource evaluation.