Earth’s Recent Climate History Climate evolution over the last 65 million years (www.alpineanalytics.com/Climate/DeepTime.html). Warm, ice ‐ free Temperature evolution over the last 110 million years from the benthic times correspond to times of high atmospheric CO2. Cooling and ice oxygen isotopic records (filled colored circles) from Lunt et al. (2016). sheet formation correspond to a long ‐ term reduction in atmospheric CO2. 406 ppm Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels from Vostok ice core and more recently from Mauna Loa measurements from Climate Central. CO2 levels haven’t been as high as today in millions of years!
Warm worlds in Earth’s past Artist’s impression of the Arctic (Denali National Park) landscape and duck ‐ billed dinos in the Maastrichtian (about 70 million years ago).
Global Climate Models Paleoclimate simulations of the Cretaceous and comparison with geologic data (from Tabor et al., 2016).
What does Mean Annual Temperature really mean? Gardiner, OR MAT = 11.6°C Red = temperature, blue = precipitation Columbus, OH MAT = 11.6°C Walnut Creek, AZ MAT = 11.6°C
Mean vs. Variance Changes
Interactions between the Physical and Biological Parts of the Earth are Complex (NRC, 2012)
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