Antarctic Fossil Forests - Back to the Future?

Embark on a captivating journey through time with Professor Howard Falcon-Lang's lecture, exploring the fascinating world of Antarctic fossil forests and their implications for climate change. Delve into the groundbreaking discoveries of fossil pioneer Robert Falcon Scott and examine Earth's climate 100 million years ago. Venture on a virtual fieldtrip to Fossil Bluff on Alexander Island, where ancient trees preserved in volcanic ash reveal secrets of a warmer past. Uncover the mysteries of polar forests, including monkey puzzle trees and ginkgo-maidenhair trees, and learn how tree rings provide crucial climate data. Investigate the cooling process that transformed Antarctica and compare past CO2 levels to current measurements. Gain valuable insights into Earth's climate history and its potential future through this engaging 44-minute presentation from Royal Holloway, University of London.

Antarctic Fossil Forests: Back to the Future?
Fossil pioneer: Robert Falcon Scott (died 1912)
Earth at 13.12 (ish) on 29 July 2020
Earth: 100 million years ago
Forests of the polar night
Virtual fieldtrip (1)
Fossil Bluff on Alexander Island
Fossil trees preserved in volcanic ash
Volcanic arc
Monkey puzzle forests
Tree-rings in fossil trunks
Rings indicate warm climate
Ginkgo-maidenhair tree
Fossil ferns, cycads, flowers...
Antarctica - 100 million years ago
Torturing plants to release secrets
Dinosaurs of Darkness
Cooling: what went wrong?
Last tree standing
Cretaceous 1500 pm CO2 Currently 416 ppm rising 2 ppm.a