Studies: concentration of atmospheric CO2 influences climatic fluctuation both ancient and modern.
Credit: Berkeley Earth.
Despite its catchy name, Marine Isotope Stage 11 (MIS 11) is not a science fiction film but, instead, a climatic regime similar to our own that endured from 424,000 to 374,000 years ago. During MIS 11 the world’s orbital configuration, atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration and fauna resembled their current state, encouraging researchers to develop high-resolution climatic reconstructions of the period. Nevertheless, despite the quality of existing climatic reconstructions uncertainty has persisted regarding the major drivers of contemporary climate change. A new study by lead author S. Das Sharma, published in latest issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research, employs novel statistical techniques to interpret 15 climatic indicators – like pollen records – in a quest for the primary cause for the warmer climate of MIS 11. More . . .
