2024-03-01 12:00:06
A recent study published in the journal Science sheds new light on the evolution of Earth’s climate, challenging preconceived ideas about our planet’s past temperatures. Illustration image Pixabay
Contrary to popular belief that Earth has experienced extremely warm periods over the past two billion years, this research reveals that our planet has enjoyed a relatively stable and mild climate. This observation profoundly modifies our understanding of the environment in which complex life evolved.
Researchers Dr Terry Isson and doctoral student Sofia Rauzi from the University of Waikato have adopted innovative methods to study the history of Earth’s surface temperatures. By analyzing more than 30,000 data points from different types of rock (shale, iron oxide, carbonate, silica and phosphate), they were able to create a detailed map of climate variations on a geological time scale.
Their approach, based on the study of oxygen isotopes present in different minerals, made it possible to reconcile data from five distinct geochemical archives. This method revealed a consistent history of Earth’s temperatures, challenging the idea of ​​boiling primitive oceans, with temperatures above 60°C.
The results instead suggest that the early oceans were temperate, with temperatures around 10°C, which contrasts with previous theories about the environment prevailing before the appearance of land animals and plants. This discovery highlights the importance of clay formation processes in regulating the climate of ancient Earth, and in maintaining conditions conducive to the evolution and diversification of life.
The study also highlights the close link between the evolution of plants, marine organisms producing silica skeletons and shells, the formation of clay and the global climate. These complex interactions have played a key role in stabilizing Earth’s climate, making it easier for life to flourish on our planet.
These discoveries, by revealing a more nuanced view of Earth’s climate history, open new perspectives for understanding how life has influenced and been influenced by climate over the eons. They underline the importance of continuing research to refine our current climate models and better anticipate future climate changes.
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