Understanding Earth’s past temperatures

The Earth’s temperature has been much cooler in the past than previously thought, meaning it could be moving towards the warmest it’s ever been.

This is what research at the University of Leeds found using a new method of measurement to understand how warm the Earth’s temperature has been over the Phanerozoic period – from around 540 million years ago to the present day.

The findings suggest that Earth’s temperature has been tightly regulated over time, and that human-driven warming of 10C – which is possible if all fossil fuel reserved are burned – would take us to places the Earth may never have been before. How far can we push the planet?

– Professor Benjamin Mills

Impact

• Used a new method of measurement to understand how warm the Earth’s temperature has been over the Phanerozoic period, crucial for understanding the impact of future climate change, evolution and extinction.

Key information

• Major funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Sichuan Science and Technology Program, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
• Partners and collaborators: Chengdu University of Technology
• Disciplines: earth and environment, climate and atmospheric science
• Investigators: Professor Benjamin Mills, Dr Dongyu Zheng.

Keywords: climate change mitigation and adaptation, climate science, environmental science, international partnerships, international research, global impact, biosphere, Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), data analysis, climate sensitivity, Earth System Evolution