Past gives clue to climate impact

A rapid rise in global temperature 55 million years ago caused major disruption to ocean currents, new research shows.Scientists found that the disruption took 140,000 years to reverse.

Writing in the journal Nature, the scientists say the phenomenon may be important for understanding the impact of present day climate warming.

Recent research suggests north Atlantic currents which bring heat to northern Europe may be weakening.

Past gives clue to climate impact