An astronomically dated record of Earth’s climate and its predictability over the last 66 million years

Much of our understanding of Earth's past climate comes from the measurement of oxygen and carbon isotope variations in deep-sea benthic foraminifera. Yet, long intervals in existing records lack the temporal resolution and age control needed to thoroughly categorize climate states of the Cenozoic era and to study their dynamics. Here, we present a new, highly resolved, astronomically dated, continuous composite of benthic foraminifer isotope records developed in our laboratories. Four climate states-Hothouse, Warmhouse, Coolhouse, Icehouse-are identified on the basis of their distinctive response to astronomical forcing depending on greenhouse gas concentrations and polar ice sheet volume. Statistical…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: EAR-0628719, 0628719
• SR
  Sight Research UK

  Awards: NE/K014137/1, NE/L007452/1, NE/K006800/1
• EC
  European Commission

  Awards: 796220, 820970
• DF
  Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

  Awards: 28504316, 386137731, 408101468, 48739182, 242225091, 224193684, 5410858, 179386126, 405856037, 242241969, 142157224, 820970, 320221997
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 41525020, 41776051
• BG
  British Geological Survey
• NO
  Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek

  Awards: 024.002.001, 865.10.001
• NE
  Netherlands Earth System Science Centre

  Awards: 024.002.001, grant no. 024.002.001
• H2
  Horizon 2020 Framework Programme

  Awards: 796220, 820970
• NE
  Natural Environment Research Council

  Awards: IP‐1581–1115, NE/L007452/1, NE/K006800/1, NE/L007452/1, IP-1581-1115, NE/K014137/1
• ER
  European Research Council

  Award: 617462