Module assignment The last time the planet warmed this muchDue Mon May pmDue Mon May 5112

Physical Geology (GEOL 1)

Question.5112 - Module 12 assignment: The last time the planet warmed this muchDue: Mon May 19, 2025 11:59pmDue: Mon May 19, 2025 11:59pmLateUngraded, 40 Possible Points40 Points PossibleAttemptSubmitted on May 21, 2025 10:04pmSubmitted on May 21, 2025 10:04pmNEXT UP: Review Feedback57%Attempt 1 Score:N/AAdd CommentUnlimited Attempts AllowedDetailsAssignment objective:Students will discover the story of the last time our planet warmed as much as it is now and will use this episode from our planet's history to make assess and predict our possible climate futureConnection to module objectives:Analyze past climate change episodes from Earth's history for lessons for todayDescription:When was the last time our planet warmed as much as it is currently experiencing? The answer: a very long time ago. 56 million years ago (Mya), in fact. The history of this warming period, dubbed the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum after the geologic periods that it straddles, is extremely enlightening as to what might be in our own future if we don't get climate change firmly under control in the near future. Our old friends at PBS Eons did a short video essay exploring the PETM. As you explore this episode from our planet's past, keep the ideas we've learned this semester in mind and watch for instances of climate forcing and feedback.Steps to complete the assignment:Watch "The last time the globe warmed," by PBS EonsAnswer the questions below in a word document and upload it hereBy how much did the planetâs average temperature increase during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM)? How long did it take to warm by that much?Use the midpoint of the temperature range and the length of time you reported in the previous question and calculate many degrees C the planet gained per centuryGlobal temperatures have risen 1 degree C since industrialization began at scale. If we assume that this occurred 150 years ago, how many degrees C has the planet gained per century over the past 150 years? How does this compare to the rate of warming during the PETM?According to the video, the PETM was caused by a sudden spike in atmospheric greenhouse gasses,, and we know that they must have come from biomass (plants, etc.). Scientists have proposed three main explanations for what may have caused this spike. What are they?What were some of the effects of the PETM on land?What were some of the effects of the PETM in the oceans?The video suggests a climate feedback was partially responsible for ending the PETM and cooling the planet to the point that ice caps began forming at the poles. Describe this feedbackWhat did you find interesting/fascinating from this video?How this assignment will be graded:This assignment is worth 40 points, assigned for completion (roughly 5 pts per question)

Answer Below:

The xxxx time xxx planet xxxxxx this xxxx By xxx much xxx the xxxxxx s xxxxxxx temperature xxxxxxxx during xxx Paleocene-Eocene xxxxxxx Maximum xxxx How xxxx did xx take xx warm xx that xxxx Earth's xxxxxxx temperature xxxxxxxxx by xxxxx to x over x period xx years xxx the xxxxxxxx of xxx temperature xxxxx and xxx length xx time xxx reported xx the xxxxxxxx question xxx calculate xxx many xxxxxxx Celsius xxx planet xxxxxx per xxxxxxx Taking xxx midpoint xx the xxxxxxxxxxx range x and xxxxxxxx by xxx duration xxxxx we xxxx that xxxxx warmed xx a xxxx of xxxxxxxxxxxxx C xxx century xxxxxx the xxxx Global xxxxxxxxxxxx have xxxxx C xxxxx industrialization xxxxx at xxxxx If xx assume xxxx this xxxxxxxx years xxx how xxxx degrees xxxxxxx has xxx planet xxxxxx per xxxxxxx over xxx past xxxxx How xxxx this xxxxxxx to xxx rate xx warming xxxxxx the xxxx Over xxx past xxxxx Earth's xxxxxxx temperature xxx increased xx C xxxxxxxx to x rate xx approximately x per xxxxxxx This xxxx is xxxx than xxxxxx the xxxx of xxxxxxx during xxx PETM xxxxxxxxxxxx the xxxxxxxxxxxxx speed xx current xxxxxxx change xxxxxxxxx to xxx video xxx PETM xxx caused xx a xxxxxx spike xx atmospheric xxxxxxxxxx gases xxx we xxxx that xxxx must xxxx come xxxx biomass xxxxxx etc xxxxxxxxxx have xxxxxxxx three xxxx explanations xxx what xxx have xxxxxx this xxxxx What xxx they xxx three xxxx hypotheses xxx the xxxxxx release xx greenhouse xxxxx during xxx PETM xxx Methane xxxxxxx Release xxx destabilization xx methane xxxxxxxx on xxx ocean xxxxx released xxxxx amounts xx methane x potent xxxxxxxxxx gas xxxx the xxxxxxxxxx Volcanic xxxxxxxx Intense xxxxxxxx activity xxxxxxxx significant xxxxxxx of xxxxxx dioxide xxxx the xxxxxxxxxx Increased xxxxxxxxxx Activity xxxxxxxx biological xxxxxxxx possibly xxx to xxxxxx temperatures xxx to xxxxxxxxx carbon xxxxxxx from xxxxxxxxxxx and xxxxxx sources xxxx were xxxx of xxx effects xx the xxxx on xxxx On xxxx the xxxx led xx significant xxxxxxx in xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Shifts xxxxxx temperatures xxx changes xx precipitation xxxxxxxx altered xxxxx distributions xxxx some xxxxxxx experiencing xxxx arid xxxxxxxxxx Animal xxxxxxxxxxx Some xxxxxxx adapted xx the xxxxxx climate xxxxx others xxxxx challenges xxx to xxxxxxx changes xxxx were xxxx of xxx effects xx the xxxx in xxx oceans xx the xxxxxx the xxxx caused xxxxx Acidification xxx increased xxxxxx dioxide xxxxxx led xx a xxxxxxxx in xxxxx pH xxxxxxxxx marine xxxx particularly xxxxxxxxx with xxxxxxx carbonate xxxxxx Extinctions xxxxxxxxxxxxx - xx benthic xxxxxxxxxxxx species xxxx extinct xxx to xxx rapid xxxxxxx in xxxxx chemistry xxx temperature xxx video xxxxxxxx climate xxxxxxxx was xxxxxxxxx responsible xxx ending xxx PETM xxx cooling xxx planet xx the xxxxx that xxx caps xxxxx forming xx the xxxxx Describe xxxx feedback x significant xxxxxxxx mechanism xxxxxxxx the xxxxxxxxx weathering xx silicate xxxxx due xx higher xxxxxxxxxxxx and xxxxxxxx This xxxxxxx removed xxxxxx dioxide xxxx the xxxxxxxxxx leading xx a xxxxxxx cooling xx the xxxxxx As xxxxxxxxxxxx decreased xxx caps xxxxx to xxxx at xxx poles xxxxxxx enhancing xxx cooling xxxxxx What xxx you xxxx interesting xxxxxxxxxxx from xxxx video xxx most xxxxxxxxxxx aspect xx the xxxx is xxx rapid xxxx of xxxxxxx and xxx profound xxxxxx on xxxx terrestrial xxx marine xxxxxxxxxx The xxxxx serves xx a xxxxx reminder xx the xxxxxxxxx consequences xx rapid xxxxxxx change xxx underscores xxx importance xx understanding xxxx climate xxxxxx to xxxxxx current xxxxxxx science xxx policy