Please check the following researchgate links.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/283462431_fig6_Fig-6-Paleoenvironmental-reconstruction-of-the-Aptian-lower-Kebar-Formation-with-the

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/230558755_fig5_Fig-5-Paleoenvironmental-reconstruction-and-time-evolution-of-the-Ediacaran-Anti-Atlas

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/260804110_Reconstructing_Upper_Cretaceous_Cenomanian_paleoenvironments_in_Armenia_based_on_Radiolaria_and_benthic_Foraminifera_implications_for_the_geodynamic_evolution_of_the_Tethyan_realm_in_the_Lesser_Caucas

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/259164306_fig1_Paleoenvironmental-reconstruction-model-of-the-Guitar-Formation-indicating-the-reef-zones

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/222647775_fig4_Fig-5-Paleoenvironmental-reconstruction-illustrating-the-13-depositional-facies-and-4

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/33427531_Paleoenvironmental_reconstruction_based_on_palynological_and_palynofacies_analyses_of_the_Aptian-Albian_succession_in_the_Sergipe_Basin_northeastern_Brazil

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283171174_Little_ice_age_to_present_paleoenvironmental_reconstruction_based_on_multiproxy_analyses_from_Nahuel_Huapi_lake_Patagonia_Argentina

Article Reconstructing Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) paleoenvironmen...

Article Paleoenvironmental reconstruction based on palynological and...

Article Little Ice Age to Present Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction ...

Hello,

in principle it is possible to reconstruct the environment in an absolute sense if you are aware of the fact that such reconstructions are associated with uncertainty and not perfect. Most reconstructions (and, equally, predictions) are presented as relative to present or to each other assuming that this masks part of the uncertainty.

Paleoclimate models such as Loveclim have been used to simulate past climates. Results can be used after correction for possible biases; these can be estimated by simulating the present situation as well and comparing this with measurements.

In the PhD-thesis of Ann Zwertvaegher, model instruments were used to reconstruct soil properties and hydrology over the Holocene for archaeological reconstructions; see http://users.ugent.be/~pfinke/PhD-thesisAZ.pdf.

In another article (Vermeer et al, 2013; http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/esp.3472) the paleotopography was reconstructed for the same area.

Thus, plenty of options!

best,

Peter Finke

I do not understand the relative and comparative terminolgy but what I do know is that any model you construct is based on a set of assumptions and if these are incorrect or inappropriate then the model will probably be also incorrect or unreliable. The assumptions you choose are based on human experience, and so are inherently unreliable. Also we almost certainly do not have knowledge of all the parameters which contribute to our current climate, so modelling the past climate is a brave task.

This is a very substantial question that cannot be answered with a few lines. Large numbers of Quaternarists have spent decades working on this question at a range of spatial and temporal scales and with diffrent types of environments (e.g. terrestrial vs marine vs ice), and every 4 years the community assembles for a conference (International Union for Quaternary Research, or INQUA) to present the latest findings. An example of a recent very successful approach has been the INTIMATE project undertaken in the North Atlantic region and also in Australasia (Australia and NZ), which have developed reconstructions over the past 30,000 years (please see literature) and well beyond that now for the NH INTIMATE project.

At the same time, advances in dating techniques are being developed so that reconstructions in different locations can be compared to the same time scale so that leads or lags can be evaluated with quantified uncertainty, and hence causal mechanisms for change can be assessed and tested. Transfer functions and models are also being employed using different 'sensors'  in different environments and applied to different archives.

I suggest you would gain a lot from reading/skimming an excellent text book such as Lowe, J.J. & Walker, M.J.C. "Reconstructing Quaternary environments", 3rd edition 2015 Routledge.

See: www.expansiontectonics website for a holistic modelling study.