Scientists say primitive moss triggered ice age on Earth

Press TV ^ | Feb. 4, 2012 | Who Would Put Their Name to This????

[Paul Pierett]

A recent study suggests that the arrival of primitive moss-like plants 470 million years ago could have triggered a series of mini ice ages on Earth.

Researchers at the Universities of Exeter and Oxford tried to explain how the first land plants could affect the climate about 450 million years ago during the Ordovician Period.

During the Ordovician Period, the planet witnessed a gradually cooling climate that led to a series of mini ice ages.

Scientists believe that the global cooling was a result of a reduction in carbon levels in the atmosphere.

The findings published in Nature Geoscience show that the arrival of primitive moss-like plants was the major cause of the phenomenon.

"The humble moss has created the climate which we enjoy today, from which the life we see all around us evolved," said Prof. Tim Lenton of Exeter University.

Atmospheric levels of Carbon dioxide were 16 times higher 480 million years ago which led to a higher global temperature.

The CO2 levels fell by half and the planet began to cool by about 460 million years ago.

“The invasion of the land by plants -- a pivotal time in the history of the planet -- brought about huge climate changes,” noted Prof. Liam Dolan of Oxford University.

Researchers realized that the moss interaction with rocks was the main cause as mosses extract nutrients from rocks by dissolving them with acid.

[Paul Pierett]

I love to watch Sand Cranes on the golf courses in Florida play with moles they have dug up from the ground around the Greens before they eat them. Have fun with this one.

[tet68]

A roiling globe gathers no moss?

[tet68]

Actually most of the terraforming scenarios seem to
involve introduction of simple plants, you don’t think??
Naaaaah.

[SunkenCiv]

Yes, you read that right -- global climate change and ice ages were brought about by the gradual spread of moss. NTSA ping.

Thanks Paul Pierett.

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[katana]

Since every real study of actual physical evidence (ice cores, etc.) indicates that temperature fluctuations precede changes in atmospheric CO2 levels, would it not be more plausible to theorize that a variable sun cooled the planet and thus reduced the CO2? Or is that too heretical for the true believers' tender ears to hear?

[gleeaikin]

SC, a ping worthy event? That moss must have made a lot of 02,

[Linda Frances]

So it’s global moss now.

[bigheadfred]

This thread needs a lichen button.

[The_Reader_David]

Old paradigms die hard in science. (Look at the attempts to rescue classical mechanics from the precession of the orbit of Mercury.) The idea that terrestrial, rather than solar, phenomena are the main drivers of climate will spawn strange hypothesis after strange hypothesis until a solar minimum triggers a full-blown ice-age despite continued increases in atmospheric CO2, at which point Svensmark will be hailed as a scientific genius in the last few years before the glaciers, famines and wars caused by population migration destroy civilization.

[C210N]

And its the liberals that will trigger the next ice age, after they remove any and all man-made warming factors that would have mitigated and/or postponed the next five ice ages.

[digger48]

Global Warming was caused by a Bush.

[SunkenCiv]

I’m so impressed, I’m going back in time and pinging the list. Thanks glee’! ;’)

[SunkenCiv]

LOLOL!

[SunkenCiv]

Not Kate ping.

[qam1]

Atmospheric levels of Carbon dioxide were 16 times higher 480 million years ago which led to a higher global temperature. The CO2 levels fell by half and the planet began to cool by about 460 million years ago.

I take it that it doesn't occur to these scientist that if CO2 levels fell by half that of course means CO2 levels were still 8x higher than today.

And if we can have ice ages when CO2 is that much higher, how much does CO2 really matter?

[Drill Thrawl]

Since every real study of actual physical evidence (ice cores, etc.) indicates that temperature fluctuations precede changes in atmospheric CO2 levels, would it not be more plausible to theorize that a variable sun cooled the planet and thus reduced the CO2? Or is that too heretical for the true believers' tender ears to hear?

It would be but it's hard to come up with a sun spot tax.

[hosepipe]

Interesting Yarn....

[BeAllYouCanBe]

What kind of suv’s did the moss drive?

[montag813]

What hogwash. Their CO2-obsession leads them to the most delightful nonsense.

[UglyinLA]

480 Million BC - mosses extract nutrients from rocks by dissolving them with acid.

2012 A.D. - mosses still extract nutrients from rocks by dissolving them with acid.

Wow, looks like evolution took a holiday.