Climate proxies are indicators or measurements used by scientists to estimate past climate conditions. These proxies can include various sources of data such as tree ring growth patterns, ice core samples, sediment layers in lakes and oceans, and historical records. By analyzing these climate proxies, researchers can reconstruct past climate conditions and understand how the Earth's climate has changed over time. This information is crucial for predicting future climate trends and understanding the impacts of human activities on the environment. Overall, climate proxies play a vital role in informing our understanding of past climate variations and helping us prepare for future climate changes.