Climate recovery
Date: 03 November 2021 Tags: Climate ChangeIssue
A report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that by 2100 the average global temperatures would breach the two degrees Celsius.
Background
A study of global temperature rise that occurred 56 million years ago was conducted by a research team.
Details
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The study showed that the climate stabilized after 20,000 to 50,000 years after a rise of five to eight degrees Celsius.
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A natural period of global warming known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was witnessed by Earth many years ago.
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Huge amounts of carbon dioxide were released into the atmosphere triggered by a volcanic eruption event.
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Ocean surfaces in higher latitudes saw their temperature increase by 8 degree Celsius. This acidification caused mass extinctions in the deep ocean.
The study
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The team analyzed rocks, single-celled marine organisms, clay minerals, and lithium isotopes to identify changes that took place.
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The global warming event resulted in erosion of rocks. These eroded rocks released lithium in water bodies. By studying the lithium isotopes, erosion levels can be understood.
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Lithium is not used by plants or biology. The amount of lithium that is released can only come from erosion process.
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They also studied single-celled organisms with calcareous shells known as planktonic foraminifera, which lived millions of years ago.
Consequences
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The PETM had high rise in temperatures but was slow. The current rise is restricted to only 3-4 degree Celsius but is very quick.
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The recovery period will probably be broadly similar in timing. The findings will only hold if there is significant reduction in CO2 emissions.
Solutions
Scientists are looking at a way known as ‘enhanced weathering’ which involves grinding up rock into powder and ploughing it into fields, where it can remove CO2 and act as a fertilizer.