ABSTRACT
This chapter revisits many of the topics covered in the previous chapters, and draws together some of the conclusions from those chapters. In addition, it emphasizes some of the main reasons for studying ice cores. They inform us about past climate, past major volcanic eruptions, cold periods, warm periods, changes in atmospheric gases, and other factors. In addition, the microbes in the ice also inform us about some of these factors, as well as indicating the types of microbes that survive from various times in the past. Some of the organisms are beneficial, and some are pathogens, and they are being released in ever increasing numbers. We are part of a huge experiment. We shall see what happens.
