Fluvial carbonates, i.e. tufas and associated carbonate facies, are widespread in the Quaternary record. At present, they are developed in varied climate and geological conditions, being abundant in mid latitude regions. Results from periodic studies comprising hydraulics, hydrochemistry, geochemistry and sedimentology of modern tufa depositing streams, have demonstrated these carbonate deposits are sensitive to such a wide variety of parameters acting at different time scales; interestingly enough is the fact that laminated deposits represent high-resolution records. Therefore, fluvial carbonate deposits represent multiproxy tools to investigate past climate and environmental conditions (relative to the depositional context) at different temporal and spatial scales. The presentation compares present and past records from several basins.