In:
Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), Vol. 292, No. 5525 ( 2001-06-22), p. 2310-2313
Abstract:
Understanding the link between the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and Earth's temperature underpins much of paleoclimatology and our predictions of future global warming. Here, we use the inverse relationship between leaf stomatal indices and the partial pressure of CO 2 in modern Ginkgo biloba and Metasequoia glyptostroboides to develop a CO 2 reconstruction based on fossil Ginkgo and Metasequoia cuticles for the middle Paleocene to early Eocene and middle Miocene. Our reconstruction indicates that CO 2 remained between 300 and 450 parts per million by volume for these intervals with the exception of a single high estimate near the Paleocene/Eocene boundary. These results suggest that factors in addition to CO 2 are required to explain these past intervals of global warmth.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0036-8075
,
1095-9203
DOI:
10.1126/science.292.5525.2310
Language:
English
Publisher:
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Publication Date:
2001
detail.hit.zdb_id:
128410-1
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2066996-3
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2060783-0
SSG:
11