The Pliocene: The Last Time Earth had >400 ppm of Atmospheric CO2

Date: Wednesday 3 April 2019

Time: 14:00 - 18:00

Location: 

Imperial College London
Periodicals Section
Central Library
South Kensington Campus
London
SW7 2AZ
UK

Email: 

meetings@rmets.org

The last time carbon dioxide was so plentiful in our planet's atmosphere was in the Pliocene era, around 3 million years ago. Life on Earth was dominated by giant mammals; humans and chimps had shared their last common ancestor. Although the sun's force was about the same, the sea levels were 15 metres higher and Arctic summer temperatures were 14 degrees higher than the present day.

Come to this meeting to hear about the climatic conditions in the Pliocene, how we know this, and what it tells us about our modern climate. If the effects of human-induced climate change are slow to act, or a tipping point is yet to be reached, what does the science tell us to expect?