A collaborative study led by scientists from China and the U.S. has shed light on how a massive carbon release 56 million years ago altered ocean chemistry, providing crucial insights into today's climate challenges.
Published in Nature Geoscience, the research brings together experts from Peking University, Pennsylvania State University, the University of California, Riverside, and other institutions. The team meticulously reconstructed ocean conditions during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a period characterized by a significant spike in global temperatures and widespread ecosystem disruptions.
The findings reveal striking similarities between the ocean acidification observed during the PETM and the current trends driven by increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. This parallel underscores the potential long-term impacts of today's carbon emissions on marine environments and global climate systems.
By understanding ancient climate events, scientists hope to better predict and mitigate the effects of ongoing climate change, emphasizing the importance of reducing carbon emissions to preserve our oceans and planet.
Reference(s):
Ancient climate crisis offers warning on modern ocean acidification
cgtn.com
