IntroductionIntroductionPaleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM)Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM)

>> Occurred ~ 55 million years ago Occurred ~ 55 million years ago>> High concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases High concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases

>>>>Sudden and abrupt climate changeSudden and abrupt climate change>>>>Estimates range from 1350 ppm to 5400 ppmEstimates range from 1350 ppm to 5400 ppm>>>>Believed to be caused by a catastrophic release Believed to be caused by a catastrophic release

of bacterial Methane (within 10,000 years). of bacterial Methane (within 10,000 years). >> Affected Flora and Fauna Affected Flora and Fauna>> Are CO2 heading towards PETM conditions? Are CO2 heading towards PETM conditions?

MethodsMethods>Researched Flora and Fauna>Researched Flora and Fauna

>>3 regions>>3 regions

>Calculated modern >Calculated modern CO2 trendsCO2 trends

Results: Similar faunal shifts ~ Results: Similar faunal shifts ~ 4040ºNºNWyoming Mongolia

Our most conservative calculation shows that it may take 645 years 645 years to recreate PETM atmospheric conditions.

ConclusioConclusionn

> It was a very different world> It was a very different world

> Extreme humidity at high latitudes / swamp habitats> Extreme humidity at high latitudes / swamp habitats

> Warm enough to support life during dark polar winters> Warm enough to support life during dark polar winters

> Radiations of tropical flora and fauna towards higher latitudes> Radiations of tropical flora and fauna towards higher latitudes>>Ferns and palms>>Ferns and palms >>>>CrocodiliansCrocodilians and turtles and turtles

> May recreate the same atmospheric CO2 concentrations > May recreate the same atmospheric CO2 concentrations anthropogenicallyanthropogenically

Questions?Questions?

Authors: Anna Fokina / Jonathan Krueger / Zhenyu Timothy Nghttp://homepage.mac.com/k.solodilov1/index.html