Australian study reveals ancient secrets to climate change

Australian scientist Sindia Sosdian and research partner Yair Rosenthal studied the shells of tiny sea creatures for more than three years to examine major climate shifts over the past 3.2 million years.

The research recorded two major cooling periods over that time -the first about 2.7 million years ago when a drop in greenhouse gases is believed to have caused the formation of giant ice sheets in the northern hemisphere.

Sosdian believed that the information could help climate change specialists better interpret ancient shifts in temperatures.

It could also hold the key to predicting future changes with more clarity.

"That's an interesting finding and that's something .. new to the scientific community," Sosdian said; Kazinform refers to China View.

See www.chinaview.cn for full version.