Earth had reached the point where life was widespread and abundant enough that it would be dramatically affected by major, planet-wide changes.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 25 – A Brief History of the Planet 1: Up to the Proterozoic
Planet earth was formed roughly 4.54 billion years ago, not long after the solar system began forming, with the sun gaining mass in the center, and gaining enough heat for hydrogen fusion to begin.
Planet earth was formed roughly 4.54 billion years ago, not long after the solar system began forming, with the sun gaining mass in the center, and gaining enough heat for hydrogen fusion to begin.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 24 Tectonics 3 – Supercontinents
As with climate, the definition of “supercontinent” can be a bit arbitrary, but one holds that a supercontinent must contain at least 75% of all land mass.
As with climate, the definition of “supercontinent” can be a bit arbitrary, but one holds that a supercontinent must contain at least 75% of all land mass.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 23 – Tectonics 2: Crustal Processes
Oceanic plate is generated at spreading ridges, which occur around the world.
Oceanic plate is generated at spreading ridges, which occur around the world.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 22 – Plate Tectonics 1: Structure of the Earth
There are three fundamental layers. Outermost is the crust, which is solid, comprised of both continents and ocean floor.
There are three fundamental layers. Outermost is the crust, which is solid, comprised of both continents and ocean floor.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 21 – Icehouse Earth
Icehouse earth is the condition when the planet has continental glaciers.
Icehouse earth is the condition when the planet has continental glaciers.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 20 – Greenhouse Earth
Greenhouse Earth is a climatic condition which has existed periodically throughout the planet's history, in which no continental (as opposed to alpine) glaciers exist.
Greenhouse Earth is a climatic condition which has existed periodically throughout the planet’s history, in which no continental (as opposed to alpine) glaciers exist.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 19 – Milankovitch Cycles 4: Climatic Significance
As we travel back in geological time, the records become sparser and our dating methods less precise.
As we travel back in geological time, the records become sparser and our dating methods less precise.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 18 – Milankovitch Cycles 3: Rotational Variations
There are two major types of regular variation in the earth's axis: the angle with respect to the ecliptic, and the orientation with respect to the (so to speak) fixed stars.
There are two major types of regular variation in the earth’s axis: the angle with respect to the ecliptic, and the orientation with respect to the (so to speak) fixed stars.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 17 – Milankovitch Cycles 2: Orbital Variations
The earth orbits the sun in an ellipse which is subject to three known types of variation, two discovered by Milankovitch, one more recently.
The earth orbits the sun in an ellipse which is subject to three known types of variation, two discovered by Milankovitch, one more recently.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 16 – Milankovitch Cycles 1: Introduction
The orbit and rotation of the earth are not static, but themselves pulse with various rhythms, and these rhythms can have large effects on our climate.
The orbit and rotation of the earth are not static, but themselves pulse with various rhythms, and these rhythms can have large effects on our climate.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 15 – Paleo-Sea Level
Reconstructing ancient sea levels is an extremely complicated task.
Reconstructing ancient sea levels is an extremely complicated task.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 14 – Relative Sea Level
Relative sea level is the elevation of water compared to a datum (Established baseline).
Relative sea level is the elevation of water compared to a datum (Established baseline).
365 Days of Climate Awareness 13 – Eustatic Sea Level
Eustatic sea level is the average height of the ocean as calculated from the center of the earth.
Eustatic sea level is the average height of the ocean as calculated from the center of the earth.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 012–Ocean Acidification
The ocean is becoming more acidic, because of the added CO2.
The ocean is becoming more acidic, because of the added CO2.
365 Days of Climate Awareness 11 – The Paleocarbon Record
Tracking the atmospheric concentration of CO2 through the earth’s existence is nearly as important as tracking global mean temperature, in order to reconstruct overall conditions and processes.
Tracking the atmospheric concentration of CO2 through the earth’s existence is nearly as important as tracking global mean temperature, in order to reconstruct overall conditions and processes.