WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THE PETM?

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is the most similar geological event to the warming that is occurring today. The cause is the same in both cases and the magnitude may be similar.

A matter of time

Over the last century, global temperatures have risen by 1°C on average. This may seem insignificant, but on a geological scale it is not. Indeed, 56 million years ago, the Earth warmed by 5°C to 9°C, but it took around 15,000 years to do so.  

Paleocene-Eocene

The PETM record shows that 56 million years ago CO₂ levels rose very quickly, but it took much longer for the system to rebalance itself.

Current warming

If we meet emission forecasts for the year 2100, we will have increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to a similar degree as 56 million years ago.