Lacim f.4sTklrt The Michigan Daily - Thursday, November 16, 1995 - 5 In study of climate changes, scientists use mammals' teeth Researchers hope to learn more about global warming By Cathy Boguslaski Daily Staff Reporter University researchers are using data from an unlikely source - the teeth of long-dead mammals - to determine past climate changes. The research is based on measuring amounts of oxygen present intooth enamel, said Henry Fricke, a graduate student in geochemistry. "There are two different oxygen iso- topes, a heavy one and a light one, and they react differently," he said. The ratio of oxygen isotopes in an animal's teeth and bones comes from three different sources: food, drinking water and atmospheric oxygen, said James R. O'Neil, professor of geologi- cal sciences. Since climate changes are related to the ratio of oxygen isotopes in drinking water, that ratio can be used as a proxy to determine the climate conditions when the animal was alive, Fricke said. "The oxygen isotope ratio of water changes as a function of the mean an- nual temperature," O'Neil said. The study used samples from the teeth of large herbivores, bison and sheep, which grow continuously, Fricke said. Instead ofjust taking one sample from a tooth, the researchers have now found that several samples can help them de- termine seasonal changes as well. We may take 10 samples from a single tooth, and analyze them from oldest to youngest. Then we can see the variation from winter to summer." - James R. O'Neil Professor of geological sciences ELIZABETH LIPPMAN/Daily ,Let 's get physical Stephane Coutu (left) and Shawn McKee, University research assistants in physics, demonstrate a spark chamber. The - tracks of red dots, occur when cosmic ray particles from outer space strike the receiving box. F FOR THE HOLIDAYS Dinners provide 'appreciation' for elderly "We may take 10 samples from a single tooth, and analyze them from oldest to youngest. Then we can see the variation from winter to summer," O'Neil said. The research shows "if you don't have a consistent sampling strategy, you may see changes that you interpret as long term that is, in fact, a short-term, seasonal change," Fricke said. Taking multiple samples from each tooth, and comparing them with multiple samples from teeth of the different time periods, can show evidence of climate change. "It also allows us to do some paleobiology," O'Neil said. "We can tell when an animal was born from when it started laying enamel, and when it stopped. "We used to worry that there would be a diagenetic alteration, and that we would lose this record just from it being buried so long. Finding these seasonal variations gives us more confidence." Information on past climate changes couldhelp scientists predict future ones, Fricke said. "People are interested in the whole idea of global warming. Also, geologi- cally, people are interested in how long our current ice-free period will last," Fricke said. "Studying these cyclic variations could tell us what sort of clues we're likely to get that it's going to start getting cool again, and what the results of us putting CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere might be." O'Neil said,"We can study the varia- tions in the past climate to find out if global warming is part of that periodic- ity. It's important for agricultural and economic reasons, as well as reasons of health and happiness." The research also will help scien- tists see how climate changes affected groups of humans in the past, Fricke said. By Heather Miller aily Staff Reporter Holiday Meals on Wheels offers an opportunity for elderly, homebound citizens to enjoy a traditional Thanks- giving meal of turkey, stuffing, cran- Oerries and pumpkin pie. The federal government provides qtialified elderly citizens with hot, nu- Jritious meals Noonday through Friday Thider the Older Americans Act. How- O(yer, federal money is not available to cpntinue the program through the week- "ends and holidays. Eight years ago, the Area Agency on Aging 1-B, a non-profit organization, extended the program. "The purpose of (Meals on Wheels) is to fill a gap," said Tina Abbate-Marzolf, communityplan- ner for the agency. "We try to cover every area that we in," she said, "but holiday meals is Our major stress." Write the Daily. daily.letters@umich.edu For, more info Students who wish to volunteer in the program can contact the agency s headquarters at (810) 948-1640. Monetary contributions to the program can be sent to: Elder Care Programs,. Washtenaw Community Care Management, 119 Pearl St., Suite HI, Ypsilanti, Mich. 48197. The agency delivers meals to more than 8,000 citizens in six counties in southeastern Michigan. "Our mission is to maintain the dig- nity and independence of older adults through funding community-based ser- vices, and we place a special emphasis on older adults who are economically disadvantaged, socially disadvantaged or physically frail and at the risk of nursing home placement," Abbate- Marzolf said. "Holiday Meals on Wheels fits into our mission." Abbate-Marzolf said many of the re- cipients often have no contact on the holidays except with the volunteers. "It's a lot more than just meals," she said. "They also get a little bit of com- panionship. "Hundreds of people volunteer," she added. "We have a lot ofyoung people." Volunteers are required to have ac- cess to a car and will deliver about 10 meals on Thanksgiving. Abbate- Marzolf said it is possible for volun- teers to ask to deliver meals in a specific area. "Providing someone who's homebound and frail is really the least we can do to show our appreciation for all they've done for us over the years," Abbate-Marzolf said. "It's a little thing, but it means so much." -CHARM FARMu pervert CHATR d FARM1 erert Judge postpones hearing for suspect in Baits hall blaze, attempted murder case J 1 Attorney was unable to attend hearing; new hearings set for Dec. 7 By Josh White Daily Staff Reporter - Washtenaw Circuit Court Judge Ann -Mattson again postponed preliminary ' earings yesterday for Dale L. Lipke, 23, one of two suspects facing arson % ,charges in connection with a Sept. 22 fire in Vera Baits II residence hall. ' Preliminary hearings for Lipke, who -:also faces separate arson and murder charges, were rescheduled for Thurs- It's never too late. Call 76-DAILY for Information. day, Dec. 7. Lipke's attorney, Randall Roberts, was unable to attend yesterday's hearing, which prompted Mattson to postpone the formal hearing a fourth time: "I don't want to proceed without your attorney here to represent you," Mattson said. "I believe it would be in your best interest to have representa- tion." Roberts was in Flint for a separate case yesterday. Lipke will remain in Washtenaw County Jail at least until his December hearing. Yesterday, Lipke signed 14-day hearing waivers for both the charges in the Baits arson and charges con- nected to the murder of Daniel P. Rice, a Superior Township man. The waivers allow the hearing for all the charges to be adjourned until the later date. LSA sophomore Crystal Lujan is also behind bars facing charges of, attempted murder and arson in con- nection with the Baits fire, and another incident that led to the murder of Rice. Lujan and Lipke are suspected of act- ing together in both incidents. 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