IT’S BACK TO THE FUTURE in Examining Earth’s Climate
A report in the journal Science provides further evidence correlating high carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere to high temperatures. e Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO) between 17 and 14 million years ago was an unusually hot time, with global temperatures believed to be 50°F hotter than today.
A team led by Timothy D. Herbert (Brown University) prepared the research report, which ties those high temps directly to high levels of carbon dioxide. With today’s levels of carbon dioxide rapidly rising, Herbert’s team and others suggest we look back to the Miocene to envision the future.
Herbert’s team ties high carbon dioxide levels during the MCO to increased tectonic activity that was creating new ocean crust. is rate of “crustal production” was as much as 35 percent higher than rates we see today. is volcanic activity came with associated “degassing” that pumped carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
e girae is one strange-looking critter. What’s up with that super-long neck crowned with little knobs? To explain, send the kids to another room. Apparently, it all came down to sex!
A research paper by Shi-Qi Wang (Chinese Academy of Sciences) in the journal Science describes a new “giraoid” species named Discokeryx xiezhi from early Miocene formations in China dated at 16.9 million years old. is critter was somewhat more horse-like in appearance than contemporary giraes. It sported a thick disk-shaped headpiece that seems to have been made for head-butting among males seeking to impress female onlookers.
e headpiece was much like that on the head-butting dinosaur, Pachycephalosaurus.
As the theory goes, longer necks enabled males to engage in ever-more violent neck-swings as they fought against one another. e girae with the longer neck lived to see another day with a happy mate who helped provide a new generation of ghters with ever-longer necks.