94-million-year-old climate change event holds clues for future
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- A major climate event millions of years ago that caused substantial change to the ocean's ecological systems may hold clues as to how the Earth will respond to future climate change, a Florida State University researcher said.
In a new study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Assistant Professor of Geology Jeremy Owens explains that parts of the ocean became inhospitable for some organisms as the Earth's climate warmed 94 million years ago. As the Earth warmed, several natural elements -- what we think of as vitamins -- depleted, causing some organisms to die off or greatly decrease in numbers.
The elements that faded away were vanadium and molybdenum, important trace metals that serve as nutrients for ocean life. Molybdenum in particular is used by bacteria to help promote nitrogen fixation, which is essential for all forms of life.
"These trace metals were drawn down to levels below where primary producing organisms, the base of the ocean food chain, can survive," Owens said. "This change inhibited biology."
The warming of the Earth during this time period took place over millions of years. At the time, the world was a drastically different place. Palms were found in Canada and lily pads dotted the Arctic Circle, while dinosaurs existed on land.
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George Osborne's shame as Britain's debt tops £1.6TRILLION amid borrowing spiral
THE Chancellor has been left red-faced after Britain's debt surged to £1.606 TRILLION last month, as the Government continues to borrow billions more than expected, figures revealed today.
Despite pledging to get Britain's finances back on track, George Osborne continues to oversee state spending outpace income by billions of pounds, according to estimates from the Office for National Statics (ONS).
The Government borrowed a staggering £17.9billion in the two months since the start of the financial year in April - even more than the same time period last year.
It meant Britain's gigantic debt as a share of the economy edged up again in May to 83.7 per cent, with the state now owing an extra £49.6 billion compared to May 2015.
The jump in this year's borrowing also puts the Chancellor firmly on track to spectacularly blow his election promises.
The Government borrowed a staggering £17.9billion in the two months since the start of the financial year in April - even more than the same time period last year.
It meant Britain's gigantic debt as a share of the economy edged up again in May to 83.7 per cent, with the state now owing an extra £49.6 billion compared to May 2015.
The jump in this year's borrowing also puts the Chancellor firmly on track to spectacularly blow his election promises.
