Data on past climate warmth may lead to better model of warm future

Eos Science News
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Abstract

Weather bureaus around the world have accumulated daily historical records of atmospheric conditions for more than a century to help forecast meteorological conditions 3 to 5 days ahead. To gain insight into the impact of possible future climate warming and constrain predictive models for a warm future, climatologists are seeking paleoclimatologic and paleoceanographic records from recent intervals of the late Quaternary, when conditions were demonstrably warmer than today.

Results of past research on Brunhes-age paleoclimate suggest that Marine Isotope Stage 11 (MIS 11), an interval between 420 and 360 ka, was the longest and warmest interglacial interval of the past 500 kyr (see the recent review by Howard [1997]). This interval was characterized by warmer seasurface temperatures in high latitudes, strong thermohaline circulation, unusual carbonate plankton blooms in high latitudes, higher than present sea level, coral reef expansion resulting in large accumulation of neritic carbonates, and overall poor pelagic carbonate preservation.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Data on past climate warmth may lead to better model of warm future
Series title Eos Science News
DOI 10.1029/99EO00211
Volume 80
Issue 26
Publication Date June 03, 2011
Year Published 1999
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Description 2 p.
First page 289
Last page 290
Other Geospatial Earth
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