If you realize that a few million years ago the temperature at the north pole was 76 Degrees Fahrenheit on average year around what would that make the temperature at the equator?
I'm thinking between 130 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. What plants do you know of that could live at that temperature? I know around thermal vents under the ocean there are some things that can live in 500 degree water there but I really don't know what plants are going to survive an average of 130 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit at the equator. Does it even ever rain at those temperatures? This might be the operative question here.
Here is the answer:
Answer: Short Answer: The boiling point of water is 100°C or 212° F at 1 atmosphere of pressure (sea level).
end quote from:
http://chemistry.about.com/od/howthingswork/f/boiling-point-of-water.htm
The problem as I see it now is through Global Climate change we might be headed back to 76 degrees Fahrenheit at the north pole once again. Very Slowly (like several thousand years from now). But, if that happens it might not rain then at all at the equator because it is so close to steam so plants would have to function somewhat differently to survive under those conditions at the equator then also.(if they could at all).
So, basically at that point the north pole would sort of be like Hawaii is year around. So likely that is where people would want to live if they were going to be outside at all without a space suit on.
Wind and storms would be very very scary at that point all over the earth because rising heat creates winds and heat also creates evaporation of oceans into clouds. So, storms would be beyond belief then too.
Sparse Dinosaur Population in Tropics ascribed to Extreme Climatic Conditions
| Uncover Michigan | - |
The
findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences have linked the scarcity of dinosaurs in the tropical latitudes
to extreme climatic conditions that destroyed the vegetation that
supports these herbivores.
Mystery solved: Why large dinosaurs avoided the tropics for millions of years
Sparse Dinosaur Population in Tropics ascribed to Extreme Climatic Conditions
The findings published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences have linked the scarcity of dinosaurs in the tropical latitudes
to extreme climatic conditions that destroyed the vegetation that
supports these herbivores.
Randall Irmis, curator of palaeontology at the Natural History Museum of Utah and assistant professor at the University of Utah, study co-author stated," Our data suggest it was not a fun place! It was a time of climate extremes that went back and forth unpredictably and large, warm-blooded dinosaurian herbivores weren't able to exist nearer to the equator as there was not enough dependable plant food".
The team of scientists studied Chinle Formation rocks, deposited by rivers and streams during the Late Triassic Period at Ghost Ranch site in northern New Mexico. These scientists analyzed the fossilized bones, pollen grains and fern spores to unveil the types of animals and plants living there at different times.
The fossil records showed that the tropics only hosted small
carnivorous dinosaurs called theropods. The findings assert that the
tropical climate experienced extremes of drought and intense heat where
wildfires were common and precipitation was unevenly distributed
throughout the year.
These continuing shifts between extremes of dry and wet led to resource-limited conditions that prevented the establishment of diverse dinosaur-dominated communities which require a productive and stable environment to thrive.
Jessica Whiteside, lecturer at the University of Southampton who has led this study claims that it is the first to provide a detailed look at the climate and ecology during the emergence of the dinosaurs and warns a high-CO2 concentration in future could suppress low-latitude ecosystems.
end quote from:
Randall Irmis, curator of palaeontology at the Natural History Museum of Utah and assistant professor at the University of Utah, study co-author stated," Our data suggest it was not a fun place! It was a time of climate extremes that went back and forth unpredictably and large, warm-blooded dinosaurian herbivores weren't able to exist nearer to the equator as there was not enough dependable plant food".
The team of scientists studied Chinle Formation rocks, deposited by rivers and streams during the Late Triassic Period at Ghost Ranch site in northern New Mexico. These scientists analyzed the fossilized bones, pollen grains and fern spores to unveil the types of animals and plants living there at different times.
These continuing shifts between extremes of dry and wet led to resource-limited conditions that prevented the establishment of diverse dinosaur-dominated communities which require a productive and stable environment to thrive.
Jessica Whiteside, lecturer at the University of Southampton who has led this study claims that it is the first to provide a detailed look at the climate and ecology during the emergence of the dinosaurs and warns a high-CO2 concentration in future could suppress low-latitude ecosystems.
end quote from:
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