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Data on past climate warmth may lead to better model of warm future

June 29, 1999

Weather bureaus around the world have accumulated daily historical records of atmospheric conditions for more than a century to help forecast meteorological conditions 3 to 5 days ahead. To gain insight into the impact of possible future climate warming and constrain predictive models for a warm future, climatologists are seeking paleoclimatologic and paleoceanographic records from recent intervals of the late Quaternary, when conditions were demonstrably warmer than today.

Results of past research on Brunhes-age paleoclimate suggest that Marine Isotope Stage 11 (MIS 11), an interval between 420 and 360 ka, was the longest and warmest interglacial interval of the past 500 kyr (see the recent review by Howard [1997]). This interval was characterized by warmer seasurface temperatures in high latitudes, strong thermohaline circulation, unusual carbonate plankton blooms in high latitudes, higher than present sea level, coral reef expansion resulting in large accumulation of neritic carbonates, and overall poor pelagic carbonate preservation.

Publication Year 1999
Title Data on past climate warmth may lead to better model of warm future
DOI 10.1029/99EO00211
Authors André Droxler, Richard Z. Poore, Lloyd Burckle
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Eos Science News
Index ID 70228810
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse