High Rainfall: A Lifesaver for Equatorial Rainforests
High rainfall played a crucial role in the survival of equatorial rainforests over 50 million years ago, a time when Earth experienced global warmth and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels surpassed 1000 ppmv.
Unraveling Survival Mysteries
Understanding how biota survived under adverse conditions remains a challenge. While existing paleoclimate data for mid- and high latitudes show fluctuations in rainfall during the same period, quantifying terrestrial paleoclimate data in the equatorial region has been an unexplored frontier. Scientists are delving into paleoclimate data to unveil the secrets of survival in challenging environments.
Plant Proxy Unveils Equatorial Climate
Researchers from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) have undertaken the task of quantifying the terrestrial equatorial climate from around 50 million years ago using plant proxies. Through climate data reconstruction, they discovered a significant increase in rainfall during that period. This elevated rainfall likely enhanced plant water use efficiency, providing resilience to withstand the extremely warm conditions and elevated carbon dioxide concentrations.
Equatorial Resilience: A Climate Anomaly
While Earth was 13°C warmer than present, and carbon dioxide levels exceeded 1000 ppmv, equatorial rainforests proved remarkably resilient. Unlike their counterparts in mid- and high latitudes, the equatorial forests thrived, revealing a unique survival mechanism. Recent research published in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology unveils the first-ever insights into how equatorial forests endured in a much warmer Earth.
Calibration for Deep-Time Terrestrial Climate
The study not only sheds light on past survival but also aids in developing a calibration file from low-latitude regions. This calibration file holds significance for quantifying seasonal deep-time terrestrial climate. It marks a crucial step in tracing the mysteries of rainforest survival, acting as a key to understanding present and future climatic and biotic changes.
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Month: Current Affairs - November, 2023