Science

How the Southern Ocean helped fuel Earth's warmest climate in 65 million years

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Briefings

A Max Planck Institute for Chemistry-led team identified the Southern Ocean as a key factor in Earth's warmest climate since the dinosaur extinction 50 million years ago. During this period, global temperatures exceeded 10 degrees Celsius above modern levels, with atmospheric CO2 concentrations reaching approximately 1,600 parts per million. This discovery helps explain how the ocean maintained high carbon levels over millions of years.

Key points

• An international research team led by the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry identified the Southern Ocean as a critical factor in maintaining high atmospheric CO2 levels.
• Global temperatures were more than 10 degrees Celsius higher than today during this period, with CO2 concentrations peaking around 1,600 parts per million.

Context

This research addresses a major mystery regarding Earth's climate history, specifically how the ocean regulated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels during the warmest period since the dinosaur extinction.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single international research team's findings from approximately 50 million years ago. The specific mechanisms by which the Southern Ocean influenced CO2 levels remain partially unexplained, and the study does not provide long-term climate projections or future scenarios.

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