What is it about?
Long ago, Antarctica had a mild climate and abundant plant and animal life. In this article we explain how the continent cooled, over tens of millions of years, into a frozen desert. We also summarize the decades of fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and computer modelling which have enabled scientists to reconstruct the history of Antarctica's climate.
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Why is it important?
Antarctica is a key part of the global climate system, and the global climate is now changing rapidly. Carbon dioxide concentrations have reached levels last seen millions of years ago. By looking at Antarctica's behaviour in past periods of global warmth, we can gain a better understanding of its role in present-day climate change.
Perspectives
It was enjoyable to step back and take a broad view of Antarctic climate. Scientific specialization brings a danger of losing sight of the bigger picture, and working on an article like this one helps me to fit the individual pieces that I've worked with into a larger, more satisfying story.
Dr Pontus C Lurcock
Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Antarctic Climate History and Global Climate Changes, September 2017, Oxford University Press (OUP),
DOI: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190676889.013.18.
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