Pliocene Climate Lessons

By Marci Melinda Robinson

An ongoing reconstruction of a warmer Earth 3 million years ago helps test climate-change forecasts

Physics Climatology

Current Issue

This Article From Issue

May-June 2011

Volume 99, Number 3
Page 228

DOI: 10.1511/2011.90.228

Over the course of geologic history, global temperatures have increased and decreased in response to a multitude of forces. Changes in the positions of continents, which can modify circulation in ocean basins and affect the global distribution of heat, have been a major cause of global climate change.

Photograph courtesy of W. S. Crawford and IODP.

To access the full article, please log in or subscribe.

American Scientist Comments and Discussion

To discuss our articles or comment on them, please share them and tag American Scientist on social media platforms. Here are links to our profiles on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

If we re-share your post, we will moderate comments/discussion following our comments policy.