Researchers at the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are studying lake sediment to reconstruct long-term climate and flood histories in the region. Using a technique called freeze coring, they extract intact layers of mud, called varves, from the bottom of lakes. These varves form annually and preserve chemical and physical clues about rainfall and weather conditions dating back hundreds to thousands of years. This method enables scientists to analyze extreme precipitation trends far beyond modern data limits. The findings could improve flood modeling and guide infrastructure decisions.Read more about this impactful research: https://news.d.umn.edu/articles/flood-history