New research challenges the generally accepted belief that substantial ice sheets could not have existed on Earth during past super-warm climate events. The study by researchers(31)Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego provides strong evidence that a glacial ice cap, (32) half the size of the modern day glacial ice(33), existed 91 million years ago (34) a period of intense global warming. This study offers valuable insight (35) current day climate conditions and the environmental mechanisms(36)global sea level rise. The new study examines geochemical and sea level data(37) from marine microfossils(38)on the ocean floor 91 million years ago during the Cretaceous Thermal Maximum. This extreme(39)event in Earth’s history raised tropical ocean temperatures to 35-37°C (95-98.6°F), about 10°C (18°F) warmer than today, thus(40)an intense greenhouse climate.
