The boundary between the Eocene and Oligocene periods marks the point where Earth reverted from hot tropical conditions to a cooler glaciated planet.
Geosphere
Discussions of the geosphere
An Early Eocene Hothouse
Geological investigations of an Eocene hothouse world shows turbidites may be linked to extreme weather events from global warming.
Life on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Years ago, I had the unique experience of standing with my right foot in Europe and my left foot in North America in one of the few places on Earth where such a feat is possible.
Subsidence
The problem of over pumping and land subsidence is global, driven by various combinations of ignorance and greed.
A New Start in the Triassic
Geological history drew a line in the sand 252 million years ago. The Permian Period ended, and the Triassic began.
Life Crashes as the Permian Ends
The Permian Period came to a catastrophic end 252 million years ago with the extinction of 95 percent of all marine species and 70 percent of terrestrial species.
Permian Water World
The Permian water world contained one massive continent, Pangea, and a single vast ocean stretching around the globe from coast to coast.
The Big Ordovician Freeze
Life crept out of the oceans and onto dry land about 470 million years ago during the Ordovician Period. These first Ordovician plants had a major impact on the world.
The Rise and Fall of Ordovician Life
The success of life in the Ordovician was driven by the availability of vast flooded continents, which formed the shallow marine habitats for a dizzying array of new and successful species
Hyper Evolution
If we reduce Earth’s history to a single day, then all major branches of life appear during a five-minute interval of hyper evolution at about 9:30 in the evening.