A report in the journal Science provides further evidence correlating high carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere to high temperatures. The Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO) between 17 and 14 million years ago was an unusually hot time, with global temperatures believed to be 50°F hotter than today.
A team led by Timothy D. Herbert (Brown University) prepared the research report, which ties those high temps directly to high levels of carbon dioxide. With today’s levels of carbon dioxide rapidly rising, Herbert’s team and others suggest we look back to the Miocene to envision the future.