Global Warming Could Lead To Palm Trees In The Arctic - Business Insider

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Palm trees could grow in the Antarctic, climate change scientists believe, after research uncovered evidence of similar plants there 55m years ago.

Scientists have discovered plants similar to palm trees growing in the Antarctic region during the early Eocene era, when the area had a near-tropical climate.

They have shown the area, which is today typified by freezing temperatures, glaciers and icebergs, had almost three times the level of carbon dioxide as now, with warm weather and virtually no frost.

Scientists now claim understanding of the era, which occurred around 55 to 48 million years ago, can give an insight into the future of the Earth if climate change continues.

According to their theory, palm trees and tropical forests could one day grow in the Antarctic, if carbon dioxide levels rise.

The study, entitled ‘persistent near-tropical warmth on the Antarctic continent during the early Eocene epoch’, has now been published in the journal Nature.

It states the early Eocene epoch had the warmest temperatures of the past 65 million years, with more than 1,000 parts per million of carbon dioxide by volume.

It claims: “Recently the early Eocene has received considerable interest because it may provide insight into the response of Earth’s climate and biosphere to the high atmospheric carbon dioxide levels that are expected in the near future as a consequence of unabated anthropogenic carbon emissions.”

The research found winters were an “extremely mild” 10C, with warm summer temperatures up to 21C, and were “essentially frost-free despite polar darkness”.

The climate, totally alien to that of the Antarctic today, “supported the growth of highly diverse, near-tropical forests characterized by mesothermal to megathermal floral elements including palms and Bombacoideae.”

Scientists behind the paper claim it “provides a critical new constraint for the validation of climate models and for understanding the response of high-latitude terrestrial ecosystems to increased carbon dioxide forcing”.

One of the authors, Dr James Bendle from the University of Glasgow, told the Independent newspaper the samples are the first known evidence of the “vitally important time.”

“Our work carries a sobering message,” he said. “Carbon dioxide levels are rising rapidly through human combustion of fossil fuels and deforestation.

“Atmospherically speaking we are heading rapidly back in time towards the Eocene.”