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Climate
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SCIENTISTS HAVE CAPTURED EARTH’S CLIMATE OVER THE LAST 485 MILLION YEARS. HERE’S
THE SURPRISING PLACE WE STAND NOW.

An effort to understand Earth’s past climates uncovered a history of wild
temperature shifts and offered a warning on the consequences of human-caused
warming.

September 19, 2024
10 min

First vertebrates

on land

First

mammals

Extinction of

dinosaurs

104ºF

40ºC

30

86

20

68

Global mean surface temperature

10

50

0

32

Current

geological

stage

100

485

million

years ago

390

300

225

Source: “A 485-million-year history of Earth’s surface temperature”, E.J. Judd
et al. Temperatures are averages for geological periods. Shaded area shows
values with a 68% probability.

First vertebrates

on land

First

mammals

Extinction of

dinosaurs

104ºF

40ºC

86

30

20

68

Global mean surface temperature

10

50

32

0

Current

geological

stage

100

65

485

million

years ago

390

300

225

Source: “A 485-million-year history of Earth’s surface temperature”, E.J. Judd
et al. Temperatures are averages for geological periods. Shaded area shows
values with a 68% probability.

First vertebrates

on land

First

mammals

Extinction of

dinosaurs

Global mean surface temperature

104ºF

40ºC

86

30

68

20

10

50

0

32

485 millions

year ago

390

300

225

200

100

65

Current

geological

stage

Source: “A 485-million-year history of Earth’s surface temperature”, E.J. Judd
et al. Temperatures are averages for geological periods. Shaded area shows
values with a 68% probability.

First vertebrates

on land

First

mammals

Extinction of

dinosaurs

104ºF

40ºC

Global mean surface temperature

30

86

20

68

10

50

32

0

Current

geological

stage

485 millions year ago

390

300

225

200

100

65

50

25

Source: “A 485-million-year history of Earth’s surface temperature”, E.J. Judd
et al. Temperatures are averages for geological periods. Shaded area shows
values with a 68% probability.

First vertebrates

on land

First

mammals

Extinction of

dinosaurs

40ºC

104ºF

Global mean surface temperature

30

86

20

68

10

50

0

32

Current

geological

stage

485 million years ago

390

300

225

200

100

65

50

25

Source: “A 485-million-year history of Earth’s surface temperature”, E.J. Judd
et al. Temperatures are averages for geological periods. Shaded area shows
values with a 68% probability.

By Sarah Kaplan
and 
Simon Ducroquet

An ambitious effort to understand the Earth’s climate over the past 485 million
years has revealed a history of wild shifts and far hotter temperatures than
scientists previously realized — offering a reminder of how much change the
planet has already endured and a warning about the unprecedented rate of warming
caused by humans.




MORE ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Understanding our climate: Global warming is a real phenomenon, and weather
disasters are undeniably linked to it. As temperatures rise, heat waves are more
often sweeping the globe — and parts of the world are becoming too hot to
survive.

What can be done? The Post is tracking a variety of climate solutions, as well
as the Biden administration’s actions on environmental issues. It can feel
overwhelming facing the impacts of climate change, but there are ways to cope
with climate anxiety.

Inventive solutions: Some people have built off-the-grid homes from trash to
stand up to a changing climate. As seas rise, others are exploring how to
harness marine energy.

What about your role in climate change? Our climate coach Michael J. Coren is
answering questions about environmental choices in our everyday lives. Submit
yours here. You can also sign up for our Climate Coach newsletter.



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