Long Story Shorts: What Is a Core Sample? @HakaiVideos

Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

Have you ever wanted to go back in time— just to see what it was like? Well, scientists have figured out how …sort of… Watch this video to find out how tree, ice, and sediment cores can tell us all sorts of things about the past.

Hey, teachers! Here’s a cheat sheet of what’s included in this episode of Long Story Shorts:
- What is a core sample, and what can it tell us about past conditions in the ocean, on land, and in the atmosphere?
- Different types of core samples: sediment, ice, tree

This episode is part of our series Long Story Shorts—fun, quick explainers about all things coastal science!

This video series is endorsed by the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development as a Decade Activity. Find out more about the Ocean Decade here: oceandecade.org

Created by the Hakai Institute
Series produced by Kristina Blanchflower and Katrina Pyne
Written, edited, and narrated by Kristina Blanchflower
Illustrations by Mercedes Minck
Science consultation provided by Kelly Fretwell and Chris Hebda

Long Story Shorts: What Is a Core Sample?

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