Articles tagged with Pleistocene Epoch
A new study found that most of the Earth began warming at the same time around 17,500 years ago, despite Greenland remaining in a deep-freeze for 2,500 years. This finding is consistent with temperature records and global atmospheric CO2 records from Antarctica.
A new study using ancient climate data reveals a two-way feedback loop where greenhouse gases increase with temperature, accelerating global warming. The research suggests that ignoring this effect could lead to revised estimates of future warming by up to 50%.
The study reveals that during periods of warm weather globally, the Pacific was cold and dry. Conversely, during cold weather elsewhere, the Pacific experienced warm and stormy conditions. This ancient climate data informs modern concerns about climate change in the Pacific region.
A team of scientists proposes releasing captive-bred California condors near marine mammal breeding grounds to restore their natural diet. The study suggests that whales and seals have been an integral part of the condor's diet since the last Ice Age, providing a potential solution for conserving endangered populations.
Research reveals that ice sheets scoured the sea floor, erasing whole communities of animals. Seafloor organisms may have emigrated to the deep sea or recolonised the Antarctic shelf during warm periods following ice ages.
A study published by Yale University scientists analyzed the genetics of quagga and plains zebra populations to understand how the quagga evolved its distinctive stripes. The research found that the quagga diverged from Plains zebra around 120,000-290,000 years ago during the Ice Age.
Scientists used radiocarbon dating to determine that human arrival in the Americas led to the extinction of prehistoric ground sloths. This suggests that big-game hunters had a significant impact on animal populations, contributing to widespread extinctions.
A recent study revealed that Larsen B Ice Shelf was stable for at least 10,000 years before disintegrating in 35 days due to global warming. The loss of this ice shelf could lead to a surge in glaciers, causing more melt and altering global sea levels.
A study by Matthew Powell found that brachiopods living near the equator suffered high extinction rates during the late Paleozoic ice age, while those living at higher latitudes were more resilient. The research suggests that human-induced environmental changes may be causing modern marine species to become extinct.
Researchers used an ice core to show that a key section of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet probably never contained as much ice as scientists originally thought it did. The study provides new information for interpreting climate and gives scientists new insights into how climate is changing today.
Scientists at Ohio State University have found that a long-ago ice age occurred 10 million years earlier than previously thought. The discovery resolves an inconsistency in climate change research and suggests that CO2 concentrations drive climate. Sea levels may have been low globally at the time, likely due to a global ice buildup.
A new study suggests that ocean tides contributed to the enigmatic Heinrich events by breaking gigantic icebergs from the ice sheet covering northern Canada. The research used a state-of-the-art computer model to capture ancient tidal variances with high accuracy, revealing that tides were highest in the Labrador Sea during these events.
Researchers from the North Greenland Ice Core Project have recovered plant remnants nearly two miles below the surface, suggesting that trees may have covered Greenland millions of years ago. The discovery provides valuable insights into the rapid formation of the Greenland Ice Sheet and its impact on climate history.
Astronomers searched for sun-like stars exhibiting Maunder minimums, but most are not like the sun. Nearly all stars identified as Maunder minima are actually much brighter and different from the sun.
A team of geologists has discovered evidence of at least three Cryogenian glaciations, with ages estimated to be around 663 million years ago. The new findings confirm a previously hypothesized 'snowball Earth' scenario and suggest significant climate changes may have led to extinctions.
Researchers at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories have conducted an experiment that revealed iron fertilization can trigger massive phytoplankton blooms in the Southern Ocean. These blooms consume vast amounts of carbon dioxide, which is then potentially removed from the atmosphere, suggesting a potential solution to global warming.
Scientists from UW-Madison used a new technique to precisely date glacial deposits, revealing that the last two major glaciations were global events. The findings suggest that rapid cooling of the Earth's atmosphere synchronized climate change worldwide during each ice age.
Researchers analyzed features in mid-latitudes on Mars, similar to those in Antarctica's Dry Valleys, to indicate significant ice buried near the planet's surface. The study provides new insights into Martian ice ages driven by variations in the planet's orbit and tilt.
Emerging life played a role in moderating ice ages that resulted in today's moderate climate. Microscopic marine plants and animals that produce calcium carbonate skeletons and shells help regulate aquatic chemistry, controlling the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The study found that cold-tolerant genera are more likely to survive than drought-tolerant ones. Tree genera are expected to show limited evolutionary adaptability in the face of climatic changes.
A new study found that global warming could lead to abrupt changes in climate and sea level, with potential societal disruptions. The researchers discovered an Antarctic melting event that raised sea levels by 70 feet in under 500 years, causing widespread warming in the Northern Hemisphere.
The increasingly salty Mediterranean could lead to a new ice age in Canada due to changes in Atlantic circulation patterns. This is because the saltiness of the Mediterranean water makes it dense enough to sink easily, allowing warm water to replace it and keep seas south of Greenland relatively warm.
Researchers at UC Davis and UC Santa Barbara have discovered a link between rapid changes in ocean carbon chemistry during the last ice age and shifts in ocean circulation. The study sheds light on how human-induced global warming may affect ocean currents, weather patterns, and climate worldwide.
Scientists have tracked sea level changes and volumes of glacial ice using fossil corals. The study found that sea levels rose too early to be consistent with Milankovitch's orbital forcing, implying other factors can override glacial cycles.
A new NASA climate model suggests that low solar activity during the Little Ice Age (1400s-1700s) triggered regional cooling in Europe and North America. The study found that a dimmer sun reduced westerly winds, leading to cold temperatures during winter.
A NASA-funded study found that glacier melting can shut down North Atlantic Deep Water production, leading to a reduced Gulf Stream and cooling Western Europe. The study suggests that freshwater additions from increased rain and snow could cause this phenomenon in the future.
A team of researchers has developed a new technique using lichens to track recent climate change. By analyzing the size of lichens in different regions, scientists can create a timeline of glacier retreating glaciers in New Zealand. This method could provide valuable insights into global warming and its effects on the environment.
Researchers uncover evidence of advanced textile production in Ice Age women, revealing intricately woven clothing and accessories made from plant fibers. The findings challenge traditional images of our ancestors, highlighting the important role that women played in late Pleistocene societies.
A UNC-CH study explains that variations in Earth's orbit over tens of thousands of years account for the timing of ice ages, providing a more complex understanding of long-term climate change. This new research confirms a theory from the 1920s and sheds light on predicting future global climate change.
A new study suggests that dramatic temperature drops associated with glaciations at the poles and in the Northern Hemisphere reached around the globe. The research team analyzed fossil eggshells of large birds, finding a significant temperature shift in Australia's sub-tropical interior.