Climate Modes of the Phanerozoic: The History of the Earth's Climate over the Past 600 Million Years - Hardcover

Frakes, Lawrence A.; Francis, Jane E.; Syktus, Jozef I.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521366275 ISBN 13: 9780521366274

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1992

Synopsis

The changes in the Earth's climate over the past 600 million years, from the Cambrian to the Quaternary, come under scrutiny in this book, first published in 1992. The geological evidence for ancient climates is examined, such as the distribution of climate-sensitive sediments. The Earth's climate has changed many times throughout the Phanerozoic. Thus in this book the climate history has been divided into Warm and Cool modes, intervals when either the Earth was in a former 'greenhouse' state with higher levels of atmospheric CO2 and polar regions free of ice, or the global climate was cooler and ice was present in high latitudes. The studies presented here highlight the complex interactions between the carbon cycle, continental distribution, tectonics, sea level variation, ocean circulation and temperature change as well as other parameters. In particular, the potential of the carbon isotope records as an important signal of the past climates of the Earth is explored. This book will be useful to all students and researchers with an interest in palaeoclimates and palaeoenvironments.

About this title

Review:

'... will undoubtedly be useful to students and teachers seeking an overview of palaeoclimates.' Mercian Geologist

Book Description:

The evolution of the Earth's climate throughout the past 600 million years is examined by assessing the information on the warm and cold states of the Earth's past climates. The studies in this 1992 book will help determine the major mechanisms of climate change on a geological time scale.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1992
• ISBN 10: 0521366275
• ISBN 13: 9780521366274
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 288