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Earth got even hotter than we thought during past 500 million years
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2448696-earth-got-even-hotter-than-we-thought-during-past-500-million-years/“Our research suggests that temperatures during greenhouse intervals [when CO2 levels are high] can get warmer than is indicated by previous [studies],” says Emily Judd of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.
In fact, during the hottest periods, average surface temperatures in the tropics reached 42°C (108°F), according to the study, meaning some land areas could have been too hot for plants and animals to survive. Even polar regions were warm during these times, with average temperatures exceeding 20°C (68°F).
“There were likely a few times over the last half billion years where certain regions were uninhabitable, or where the biodiversity in those regions was extremely low,” Judd says.
Her team also found a stronger link between carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and average global temperature than expected. Over such a long time span, the team had expected the relationship to be weaker because of other factors, such as the sun getting brighter.
In fact, during the hottest periods, average surface temperatures in the tropics reached 42°C (108°F), according to the study, meaning some land areas could have been too hot for plants and animals to survive. Even polar regions were warm during these times, with average temperatures exceeding 20°C (68°F).
“There were likely a few times over the last half billion years where certain regions were uninhabitable, or where the biodiversity in those regions was extremely low,” Judd says.
Her team also found a stronger link between carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere and average global temperature than expected. Over such a long time span, the team had expected the relationship to be weaker because of other factors, such as the sun getting brighter.
Very disturbing news.