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Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Photo: Sea Levels to Plunge Long Term, Study of Dino Era Says


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About 80 million years ago sea levels were roughly 560 feet (170 meters) higher than they are today, a new study says. On today's globe, sea levels that high would flood most of northern Europe, large sections of South America, the east coast of North America, and parts of Australia (top).

The study also shows that ancient high seas were part of a long-term trend of rises and falls that accounts for processes beyond the expected short-term rise in sea levels due to today's melting ice caps. If this historic trend continues, the authors predict, in 80 million years sea levels will be 230 feet (70 meters) lower than they are today (bottom).

Image courtesy R. Dietmar Müller