| Literature DB >> 20080721 |
D O Breecker1, Z D Sharp, L D McFadden.
Abstract
Quantifying atmospheric CO(2) concentrations ([CO(2)](atm)) during Earth's ancient greenhouse episodes is essential for accurately predicting the response of future climate to elevated CO(2) levels. Empirical estimates of [CO(2)](atm) during Paleozoic and Mesozoic greenhouse climates are based primarily on the carbon isotope composition of calcium carbonate in fossil soils. We report that greenhouse [CO(2)](atm) have been significantly overestimated because previously assumed soil CO(2) concentrations during carbonate formation are too high. More accurate [CO(2)](atm), resulting from better constraints on soil CO(2), indicate that large (1,000s of ppmV) fluctuations in [CO(2)](atm) did not characterize ancient climates and that past greenhouse climates were accompanied by concentrations similar to those projected for A.D. 2100.Entities:
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Year: 2009 PMID: 20080721 PMCID: PMC2818962 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0902323106
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A ISSN: 0027-8424 Impact factor: 11.205