How Ancient Plants Helped Cool the Earth 🌱🌍
Hey there! Did you know that millions of years ago, plants played a huge role in changing Earth’s climate? 🌳💚 A recent study found out how changes in vegetation helped cool our planet during a time called the late Miocene.
What’s the Late Miocene? 🕰️
The late Miocene happened about 11.6 to 5.3 million years ago. Back then, Earth was warmer than it is now. But things started to cool down, leading to the climate we have today.
Plants Making a Difference 🌿
Scientists from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (that’s a big science place in the Chinese mainland!) discovered that as temperatures dropped, the kinds of plants on Earth changed too. In places up north, thick forests turned into wide-open grasslands. 🌾
How Did This Affect the Climate? ❄️
When forests changed to grasslands, the Earth’s surface reflected more sunlight back into space. Imagine wearing a white T-shirt on a sunny day—it keeps you cooler! 🌞 This reflection helped the Earth cool down even more. Plus, different plants release different amounts of water vapor, which can change clouds and rain patterns. ☁️🌧️
Why It Matters Today 🌍
Professor Zhang Ran, one of the scientists, said, “This study helps us understand how plants can influence the global climate—both in the past and in the future.” 🌟 It reminds us that plants aren’t just nice to look at—they help keep our planet in balance!
What Can We Learn? 📚
Unlike now, when the Earth is warming up because of extra CO2, the late Miocene was cooling down with less CO2. This shows us that changes in plants and trees can have a big impact on Earth’s climate. So, let’s take care of our green friends! 🌳💚
Reference(s):
Vegetation changes accelerated climate shifts during late Miocene
cgtn.com
