Effect of global atmospheric carbon dioxide on glacial-interglacial vegetation change

Global vegetation changes at the time-scale of the Earth's orbital variations (104-105 years) have been interpreted as a direct effect of consequential climatic changes, especially temperature. At mid- and high latitudes, the evidence from fossil data and general circulation models (GCMs) suppo...

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Main Authors: Bennett, K, Willis, K
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2000
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author Bennett, K
Willis, K
author_facet Bennett, K
Willis, K
author_sort Bennett, K
collection OXFORD
description Global vegetation changes at the time-scale of the Earth's orbital variations (104-105 years) have been interpreted as a direct effect of consequential climatic changes, especially temperature. At mid- and high latitudes, the evidence from fossil data and general circulation models (GCMs) supporting this hypothesis is strong, but at low latitudes there is a major discrepancy. GCMs predict temperature changes that are less than those inferred from palaeoclimatic data, including the plant fossil record. However, changes in atmospheric CO2 concentrations can account for a high proportion of the low-latitude vegetation change hitherto attributed to temperature change, and may thus explain the discrepancy. The implications of this finding are considerable for understanding patterns of macroevolution and ecosystem development throughout the geological record.
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spelling oxford-uuid:0e26fcc6-3516-4a69-a8c6-fdd63f234f172022-03-26T09:44:22ZEffect of global atmospheric carbon dioxide on glacial-interglacial vegetation changeJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:0e26fcc6-3516-4a69-a8c6-fdd63f234f17EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2000Bennett, KWillis, KGlobal vegetation changes at the time-scale of the Earth's orbital variations (104-105 years) have been interpreted as a direct effect of consequential climatic changes, especially temperature. At mid- and high latitudes, the evidence from fossil data and general circulation models (GCMs) supporting this hypothesis is strong, but at low latitudes there is a major discrepancy. GCMs predict temperature changes that are less than those inferred from palaeoclimatic data, including the plant fossil record. However, changes in atmospheric CO2 concentrations can account for a high proportion of the low-latitude vegetation change hitherto attributed to temperature change, and may thus explain the discrepancy. The implications of this finding are considerable for understanding patterns of macroevolution and ecosystem development throughout the geological record.
spellingShingle Bennett, K
Willis, K
Effect of global atmospheric carbon dioxide on glacial-interglacial vegetation change
title Effect of global atmospheric carbon dioxide on glacial-interglacial vegetation change
title_full Effect of global atmospheric carbon dioxide on glacial-interglacial vegetation change
title_fullStr Effect of global atmospheric carbon dioxide on glacial-interglacial vegetation change
title_full_unstemmed Effect of global atmospheric carbon dioxide on glacial-interglacial vegetation change
title_short Effect of global atmospheric carbon dioxide on glacial-interglacial vegetation change
title_sort effect of global atmospheric carbon dioxide on glacial interglacial vegetation change
work_keys_str_mv AT bennettk effectofglobalatmosphericcarbondioxideonglacialinterglacialvegetationchange
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