The average surface temperature varied more widely and was even hotter than previously thought during much of the past 500 million years, according to the most rigorous study so far
, compared with around 14°C or 15°C at present. The lowest it got was around 11°C according to the most rigorous study so far.
“This was surprising,” Judd says. “It implies that atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations play an even bigger role in regulating Earth’s climate than previously thought.” The ratio of oxygen isotopes in some fossil shells can indicate past ocean temperature, but these are specific to just one part of the ocean. Climate models give a global overview, but because there is so much uncertainty about conditions in the distant past, models might diverge widely from reality.
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