In Prehistoric Arctic, 74 Degrees and Palmy
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Fifty-five million years ago the Arctic was a lot like Miami, with an average temperature of 74 degrees, alligator ancestors and palm trees, scientists report in the current issue of the journal Nature. Scientists had known the Arctic had warmed, but previously believed it had reached about 52 degrees. The new conclusion is based on first-of-their-kind core samples extracted from more than 1,000 feet below the Arctic Ocean floor. Scientists say the findings are a sneak peek at what man-made global warming could do someday.
