What is primarily measured in air bubbles within ice cores to assess historical atmospheric conditions?

The measurement of carbon dioxide concentrations in air bubbles trapped within ice cores is crucial for understanding historical atmospheric conditions. These bubbles serve as tiny time capsules, preserving the composition of the atmosphere at the time the ice was formed.

By analyzing the levels of carbon dioxide, scientists can infer past climate conditions and understand how greenhouse gas concentrations have changed over thousands of years. This data is vital for reconstructing climate history, particularly in relation to natural and anthropogenic influences on the Earth’s climate.

While the other components mentioned, such as oxygen levels, nitrogen concentrations, and water vapor, can provide useful information about atmospheric conditions, carbon dioxide is the key greenhouse gas that significantly impacts global temperatures and climate patterns. Thus, measuring carbon dioxide concentrations in trapped air bubbles is a primary focus for scientists studying climate history through ice cores.