Geobiology March 2009 PMID 19323694

The Eocene Arctic Azolla bloom: environmental conditions, productivity and carbon drawdown.

E N Speelman, M M L Van Kempen, J Barke, H Brinkhuis, G J Reichart, A J P Smolders, J G M Roelofs, F Sangiorgi, J W de Leeuw, A F Lotter, J S Sinninghe Damsté

Mentions

18
Peak: 2 in Apr 2023
across 5 sources since Apr 2016

Extended reach

736,516
potential audience

Total likes

13,717

Video views

720,407

Mentions per month

Apr 2016 – Apr 2024

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter9 posts
  • News3 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Facebook2 posts
  • Blogs2 articles

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The group's discussions reflect a strong consensus appreciating the research's importance, with posts using emphatic language like 'making the ice caps we have today' and recommendations highlighting the significance of Azolla in Earth's climate history. Words like 'reduced CO2 by 80%' and mentions of its role as a 'climate engineer' demonstrate an engaged, impactful discourse that connects past events to current climate concerns.

AgreementStrong agreement

Most posts strongly agree with the idea that Azolla played a significant role in cooling the climate, citing specific figures like the plant reducing CO2 by 80%.

InterestHigh interest

The discussions show high curiosity about historic climate events, referencing interesting facts and suggesting enthusiasm for understanding Earth's climate history.

EngagementHigh engagement

Posts contain detailed references, such as linking Azolla to climate change and sharing summarized explanations, indicating deep engagement.

ImpactHigh impact

Many posts highlight the profound significance of these findings, emphasizing their relevance to understanding climate change and even current climate engineering debates.

Abstract in brief

  • During the middle Eocene, enormous blooms of the freshwater fern Azolla grew in the Arctic Ocean, likely contributing to a decline in atmospheric CO2 levels as their organic matter was buried.
  • The timing of these Azolla blooms (~48.5 million years ago) aligns with Earth's transition from a greenhouse to a cooler icehouse climate, suggesting they may have played a role in climate change.
  • Experiments show Azolla's growth increases under higher CO2 levels, and calculations estimate that the organic carbon buried could have reduced atmospheric CO2 by 55 to 470 ppm, significantly impacting the planet's climate during that period.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Vitalist Doxometrist
@doxometrist · X

re: climate engineering 40M years ago 1 plant reduced CO2 by 80% making the ice caps we have today https://t.co/Wtw3XJOivZ https://t.co/lnJX7KpKag

Apr 15, 2023 · 13 likes · 1 share · 3,459 followers View post →
Sonia Molino
@molino_sonia · X

Y así fue como un helecho del tamaño de un lacasito fue el responsable de nuestro clima. Si queréis saber más estos vídeos lo explican súper bien

Apr 8, 2021 · 11 likes · 1,291 followers View post →
Porter
@offgridPorter · X

@451b7a41 @RizomaSchool @ESpacewalk @Anne_Hale_fan @CaseyBHead @coperthwaite @Hispeedlowdrug @hollentunder Sadly not a book. A research project. https://t.co/eSV3gNzOFc

Feb 22, 2023 · 1 like · 384 followers View post →
Fleek Futurist —
@FleekFuturist · X

RT @doxometrist: re: climate engineering 40M years ago 1 plant reduced CO2 by 80% making the ice caps we have today https://t.co/Wtw3XJOi…

Apr 15, 2023 · 1 share · 8,353 followers View post →
PamAndersonDefender#1
@ThusSpokeStella · X

RT @TheAzollaFound: The Eocene Artic Azolla Event summed up on the on The Science Show

Mar 31, 2022 · 1 share · 1,171 followers View post →
Gary Vincent
@GaryVin74948238 · X

@wideawake_media https://t.co/XnuRVXritC

Apr 2, 2024 · 1,115 followers View post →

All mentions

Ancient Azolla Blooms and Their Role in Climate Change

During the middle Eocene, massive Azolla fern blooms in the Arctic Ocean likely contributed to a significant reduction in atmospheric CO2, facilitating Earth's transition from a greenhouse to a cooler icehouse climate…

SciShow · Apr 18, 2016 717,500 views
Gary Vincent
@GaryVin74948238 · X

@wideawake_media https://t.co/XnuRVXritC

Apr 2, 2024 · 1,115 followers View post →
Fleek Futurist —
@FleekFuturist · X

RT @doxometrist: re: climate engineering 40M years ago 1 plant reduced CO2 by 80% making the ice caps we have today https://t.co/Wtw3XJOi…

Apr 15, 2023 · 1 share · 8,353 followers View post →
Vitalist Doxometrist
@doxometrist · X

re: climate engineering 40M years ago 1 plant reduced CO2 by 80% making the ice caps we have today https://t.co/Wtw3XJOivZ https://t.co/lnJX7KpKag

Apr 15, 2023 · 13 likes · 1 share · 3,459 followers View post →
Porter
@offgridPorter · X

@451b7a41 @RizomaSchool @ESpacewalk @Anne_Hale_fan @CaseyBHead @coperthwaite @Hispeedlowdrug @hollentunder Sadly not a book. A research project. https://t.co/eSV3gNzOFc

Feb 22, 2023 · 1 like · 384 followers View post →
PamAndersonDefender#1
@ThusSpokeStella · X

RT @TheAzollaFound: The Eocene Artic Azolla Event summed up on the on The Science Show

Mar 31, 2022 · 1 share · 1,171 followers View post →
Émile Julien
@mileJulien3 · X

@JoeySantore And I highly recommend this one explaining how Azolla ferns in the arctic ocean probably largely contributed to the end of the thermal maximum https://t.co/RGXDke5zuy

Aug 15, 2021 View post →
Sonia Molino
@molino_sonia · X

Y así fue como un helecho del tamaño de un lacasito fue el responsable de nuestro clima. Si queréis saber más estos vídeos lo explican súper bien

Apr 8, 2021 · 11 likes · 1,291 followers View post →
The Azolla Foundation
@TheAzollaFound · X

The Eocene Artic Azolla Event summed up on the on The Science Show

Feb 26, 2021 · 1 share · 326 followers View post →
raymond shpeley
@raymondshpeley · X

@michael_nielsen there's some good data on youtube here, https://t.co/2nPvCdSOuj

Feb 26, 2019 · 3 followers View post →