October 2017 PMID 29073052

Formation of most of our coal brought Earth close to global glaciation.

Georg Feulner

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Mentions

90
Peak: 3 in Jan 2023
across 6 sources since Sep 2020

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2,175,793
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Total likes

39,858

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2,047,290

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Sep 2020 – Sep 2025

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AI synopsis

What people are saying

The group discusses how the formation of coal during the Carboniferous period caused significant drops in atmospheric CO2, bringing Earth close to a 'snowball' state, supported by references to scientific papers like Feulner (2017). The tone combines scientific detail with some skepticism about models, demonstrating a deep dive into geological data and climate implications, which reflects both high interest and meaningful engagement.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the link between coal formation, CO2 levels, and global glaciation, showing general consensus with some nuance.

InterestHigh interest

Posts delve into detailed geological and climate science topics, indicating high curiosity about Earth's ancient climate and formation processes.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many participants reference specific studies, debate models, and interpret data, reflecting in-depth engagement with the subject matter.

ImpactModerate impact

Discussions enhance understanding of climate history and underscore the connection between fossil fuel formation and Earth's climate shifts, which could influence perceptions about climate change.

Abstract in brief

  • Most of Earth's coal deposits formed during the late Carboniferous and early Permian periods from plant debris, which played a role in lowering atmospheric CO2 levels and bringing Earth close to a global ice age.
  • Changes in Earth's orbital parameters, such as axial tilt and orbit eccentricity, significantly influenced climate conditions and atmospheric CO2 fluctuations, with colder periods linked to specific orbital configurations.
  • Climate modeling suggests that once atmospheric CO2 drops below about 40 ppm, Earth could enter a "Snowball Earth" state—completely glaciated—indicating that orbital cycles were crucial in controlling climate and the carbon cycle during this ancient ice age.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Deonandan
@deonandan · X

Fun fact: the creation of most (if not all) of the world's coal happened about 300 million years ago, almost causing a crippling global ice age, as so much carbon was sucked out of the atmosphere. https://t.co/0TFtmvNK3v

Jul 10, 2024 · 10 likes · 1 share · 19,514 followers View post →
AustralianConservative
@AustConserva · X

@wideawake_media Lowering CO2 levels lead to global glaciation.. https://t.co/K2wqmMNnAo

Apr 7, 2023 · 4 likes · 1 share · 1,560 followers View post →
David Ullrich
@DavidUllrich202 · X

We are burning fossilized hydrocarbon matter. That means we are burning stuff that was once alive and in a way we are grave robbing by doing so. Did you ever wonder who's graves we are robbing? Snowball Earth, that's climate extreme. Now reverse that...

Mar 13, 2023 · 3 likes · 40,129 followers View post →
MatSciguy
@matsciguycanada · X

@CraigSw60447870 @Melanie33720945 @arcanegoat @Unapologet26919 @oohglobbits2 @WasIRude @NeonCloud5 @umfpt @yeayea1818 @1pckt @warpox @DiPolarPilot @SDAFS56788141 @surgerysleeper @shock_hazard @osiris_neits @Galcondude @SSpence64 @latoyadeeznutz @TakeThatHistory @hugh_bothwell @1Quetzalcoatl1 @hellboy2112 @YTGGFI @RoryWantsToKnow @JaTapps @Christgodtweet @Cleisthenes5 @NoScienceDenial @HankStern2 @Flaffenbam @DoubleDoubleJon @TheColossis @Thedukeistheman @laughchem @RayOwen27617272 @Atheism_is_Dead @JordanBassior @CrispyCurry @andyguy @RFirethief @RockAndAnchor No, the flood didn't happen. It's physically impossible. Here's the evidence for coal formation 300ma yrs ago. https://t.co/rEmU9iFrnM https://t.co/K8O216YWod https://t.co/lUUQNVCsGp

Sep 4, 2025 · 3 likes · 332 followers View post →
AustralianConservative
@AustConserva · X

@wideawake_media Low CO2 levels lead to global glaciation.. History proves this

Apr 19, 2023 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,560 followers View post →
MatzoH
@matzxl · X

@BMauschen @WahnSager War ja eig. umgekehrt. Die Inkohlung durch wiederholte Sedimentüberdeckung von Sumpfbecken mit üppiger Vegetation insb. durch Erosion der enormen variszischen Gebirgsbildung führte zu CO2-Abnahme bis auf ca. 100 ppm und nahezu zu einem "snowball earth" https://t.co/gpEujN7Zel

Sep 12, 2023 · 2 likes · 179 followers View post →

All mentions

MatSciguy
@matsciguycanada · X

@CraigSw60447870 @Melanie33720945 @arcanegoat @Unapologet26919 @oohglobbits2 @WasIRude @NeonCloud5 @umfpt @yeayea1818 @1pckt @warpox @DiPolarPilot @SDAFS56788141 @surgerysleeper @shock_hazard @osiris_neits @Galcondude @SSpence64 @latoyadeeznutz @TakeThatHistory @hugh_bothwell @1Quetzalcoatl1 @hellboy2112 @YTGGFI @RoryWantsToKnow @JaTapps @Christgodtweet @Cleisthenes5 @NoScienceDenial @HankStern2 @Flaffenbam @DoubleDoubleJon @TheColossis @Thedukeistheman @laughchem @RayOwen27617272 @Atheism_is_Dead @JordanBassior @CrispyCurry @andyguy @RFirethief @RockAndAnchor No, the flood didn't happen. It's physically impossible. Here's the evidence for coal formation 300ma yrs ago. https://t.co/rEmU9iFrnM https://t.co/K8O216YWod https://t.co/lUUQNVCsGp

Sep 4, 2025 · 3 likes · 332 followers View post →
Scott Simmons
@sjsimmons · X

@patfrank830 @dafalgoutDennis @MLeiter42 @ammocrypta @Frnc_prep @ChrisBBacon3 @priscian @1000Frolly @WayneAllanH @joPO19942906 @JamesAbbott2013 @craigthomler @CDCollins5269 @jimdtweet @WHPAAD @grok @balls95652097 @ladyspat1 @BubbasRanch @evenminded512 @Kenneth72712993 @MichaelCar11571 @BenKoby1911 @LexWaters7 @Michael_D_Crow @Scizz8 @Data79504085 @Mark_A_Lunn @DaleGribble_666 @rln_nelson @4RealClimate @BudBromley @Ernestops78 @TrixX306 @phlannelphysics @BobPartridge16 @Hji45519156 @FreeSpeech4U_Me @Devonian1342 @jgatta06 @TypicalDeviant @isaacscradle @RobertWager1 @hannon_renee @RixAutomatedMat @GeorgeJeff9804 @roger_clague @NOAA You can educate yourself about the early Permian here. https://t.co/0jeHHWC59a

Jul 25, 2025 · 1,268 followers View post →
Scott Simmons
@sjsimmons · X

@Frnc_prep @patfrank830 @dafalgoutDennis @MLeiter42 @ammocrypta @ChrisBBacon3 @priscian @1000Frolly @WayneAllanH @joPO19942906 @JamesAbbott2013 @craigthomler @CDCollins5269 @jimdtweet @WHPAAD @grok @balls95652097 @ladyspat1 @BubbasRanch @evenminded512 @Kenneth72712993 @MichaelCar11571 @BenKoby1911 @LexWaters7 @Michael_D_Crow @Scizz8 @Data79504085 @Mark_A_Lunn @DaleGribble_666 @rln_nelson @4RealClimate @BudBromley @Ernestops78 @TrixX306 @phlannelphysics @BobPartridge16 @Hji45519156 @FreeSpeech4U_Me @Devonian1342 @jgatta06 @TypicalDeviant @isaacscradle @RobertWager1 @hannon_renee @RixAutomatedMat @GeorgeJeff9804 @roger_clague @NOAA Yes, Frank is pretty ignorant about geology. https://t.co/0jeHHWC59a

Jul 25, 2025 · 1 like · 1,268 followers View post →
Eco Prepper
@Frnc_prep · X

@Kenneth72712993 @MLeiter42 @sjsimmons @rln_nelson @ammocrypta @jimdtweet @Scizz8 @4RealClimate @craigthomler @dafalgoutDennis @evenminded512 @priscian @BudBromley @WHPAAD @Michael_D_Crow @BubbasRanch @CDCollins5269 @Ernestops78 @JamesAbbott2013 @LexWaters7 @TrixX306 @phlannelphysics @patfrank830 @joPO19942906 @BobPartridge16 @grok @BenKoby1911 @Hji45519156 @FreeSpeech4U_Me @Mark_A_Lunn @WayneAllanH @ladyspat1 @JJ9621073059835 @Devonian1342 @jgorman2424 @jgatta06 @ChrisBBacon3 @TypicalDeviant @isaacscradle @ClimateRetorts @RobertWager1 @hannon_renee @RixAutomatedMat @DaleGribble_666 @GeorgeJeff9804 @roger_clague @GillesnFio @Joe_Public2018 @ClimatePoet 100 +/- 80 ppm for earliest Perm, from we d 13 C values of soil-formed calcites (d 13 Ccarb). Two papers here 1. https://t.co/uoJ8ajX0rN 2. https://t.co/N4pbXVmnFe

May 2, 2025 · 214 followers View post →
Eco Prepper
@Frnc_prep · X

@Cervus2Leo @MikeHudema ....or few million. Anyway, research papers show figures as low as 150. It says 900-2,000 for Permian. Papers show figures of 100 for the early Permian. So it is way out. https://t.co/biQj60V23M

Mar 13, 2025 · 1 like · 214 followers View post →
Doug Jones
@logarithmic_h · X

https://t.co/RGLU8cQw1M

Mar 10, 2025 · 925 followers View post →
In Salutem
@ISalutem · X

@mazzini_gsp @ari10prasetyo The bulk of the coal driving the Industrial Revolution and contributing to global warming today has been deposited during the Carboniferous period (359–299 Mya), resulting in a significant drawdown of atmospheric CO2 at that time. https://t.co/wM8mXyzB11.

Nov 11, 2024 · 405 followers View post →
Blofeld’s cat is missing!
@FashionPearce · X

@AndyWest_tweets @newstart_2024 https://t.co/ejEloLpzkj Here you go. Fascinating history of cooling warming up & cooling. CO2 @ 700ppm & vegetation dying off because CO2 dropped too low. Axial deviations ( Milankovic Cycles?) affecting just about everything. All without Gates, WEF, Gore & Kerry.

Sep 5, 2024 · 1,185 followers View post →
Dark Brian Fella: It's Slava time.
@The_Brian_Life · X

RT @deonandan: Fun fact: the creation of most (if not all) of the world's coal happened about 300 million years ago, almost causing a cripp…

Jul 10, 2024 · 1 share · 4,896 followers View post →
Deonandan
@deonandan · X

Fun fact: the creation of most (if not all) of the world's coal happened about 300 million years ago, almost causing a crippling global ice age, as so much carbon was sucked out of the atmosphere. https://t.co/0TFtmvNK3v

Jul 10, 2024 · 10 likes · 1 share · 19,514 followers View post →
In Salutem
@ISalutem · X

Formation of most of our coal brought Earth close to global glaciation ... eh sama PBNU mau diadul² lagi

Jul 3, 2024 · 405 followers View post →
Scott Simmons
@sjsimmons · X

@TomANelson @CO2Coalition This is an update to the other study. "During the earliest Permian, however, the threshold for Snowball Earth glaciation of 37.5±2.5 ppm is within the uncertainty range of the estimates of 100±80 ppm." https://t.co/0jeHHWC59a

May 17, 2024 · 1,268 followers View post →
Brian Pittock
@ShroedingerBird · X

#auspol https://t.co/JHbcNkaQ2X

Dec 13, 2023 · 1,017 followers View post →
Earl Grey Beard
@EarlJBH · X

@rreeves5 @wideawake_media You're right - because Earth would be a snowball (because co2 regulates the temperature). When most of the coal was produced by the planet, the drawdown of carbon in the atmosphere, almost turned to Earth into a snowball (again). https://t.co/41yXW7juel

Nov 9, 2023 · 587 followers View post →
MatzoH
@matzxl · X

@BMauschen @WahnSager War ja eig. umgekehrt. Die Inkohlung durch wiederholte Sedimentüberdeckung von Sumpfbecken mit üppiger Vegetation insb. durch Erosion der enormen variszischen Gebirgsbildung führte zu CO2-Abnahme bis auf ca. 100 ppm und nahezu zu einem "snowball earth" https://t.co/gpEujN7Zel

Sep 12, 2023 · 2 likes · 179 followers View post →
Brian Pittock
@ShroedingerBird · X

@ammocrypta @ZombiePiano @RobAnderson17 @ericonthetrail @S_D_Mannix @Anvndarnamn5 @AristotleMrs @Mark_A_Lunn @TWTThisIsNow @B_Bolshevik100 @ClimateRetorts @wille99 @ItsTheAtmospher @Dcchristense @benmooreau @KCTaz @ncdave4life @Climatehope2 @EthonRaptor @TheDisproof @Data79504085 @Veritatem2021 @Jaisans @atherton_chris @WillWat6 @3GHtweets @DGinCheshire @BointonGiles @AuroriaTwittori @RushhourP @MartinJBern @Willard1951 @gstrandberg1 @Jakegsm @EricWil06256732 @DTGvmd @PaulDFarrar @Hji45519156 @Valja46Zhark5 @paulp1232 @J0aquIm_B4rb0s4 @Sky48115666 @0Sundance @BradPKeyes @DoesThisW0rk @FD2you @JustThi30117912 @ChrisBBacon3 @rosmadiwahab this may bring you up to speed. Co2 levels are listed https://t.co/JHbcNkaQ2X

Jul 12, 2023 · 1 like · 1,017 followers View post →
AustralianConservative
@AustConserva · X

@wideawake_media Low CO2 levels lead to global glaciation.. History proves this

Apr 19, 2023 · 2 likes · 1 share · 1,560 followers View post →
Camolino
@Camolino · X

RT @AustConserva: @wideawake_media Lowering CO2 levels lead to global glaciation.. https://t.co/K2wqmMNnAo

Apr 7, 2023 · 1 share · 346 followers View post →
AustralianConservative
@AustConserva · X

@wideawake_media Lowering CO2 levels lead to global glaciation.. https://t.co/K2wqmMNnAo

Apr 7, 2023 · 4 likes · 1 share · 1,560 followers View post →
J. Smith
@Forest_0f_trees · X

@drop_robert @damagedonegr @MatthewWielicki @TheDisproof @kevpluck @ArjanMuyen @ejwwest Caused the Permian glaciations. So the earth nearly froze, killing a significant portion of marine life. We then see a rapid increase in temperature connected to volcanic activity releasing CO2 into the atmosphere. Temperatures spiked and also... https://t.co/s3RSqIuZCL

Mar 22, 2023 · 242 followers View post →
David Ullrich
@DavidUllrich202 · X

We are burning fossilized hydrocarbon matter. That means we are burning stuff that was once alive and in a way we are grave robbing by doing so. Did you ever wonder who's graves we are robbing? Snowball Earth, that's climate extreme. Now reverse that...

Mar 13, 2023 · 3 likes · 40,129 followers View post →
jragusa
@JeremyRagusa · X

@benco_c @Le_Reveilleur La séquestration de cette importante masse carbonée a par ailleurs entrainé une baisse importante du taux de CO2 dans l'atmosphère et donc une diminution de l'effet de serre durant le Carbonifère. 2/2 https://t.co/3AdHevT5no

Feb 20, 2023 · 451 followers View post →
Stephen W 〓〓
@StephenWarman · X

There’s nothing new about Climate Change - it’s been going on forever. The trouble is we’re driving it much faster by recreating a ‘fossil’ climate than 8,000,000,000 people can adapt to. Slightly techie link https://t.co/1CIDjVslX3.

Jan 15, 2023 · 2,141 followers View post →
Scott Simmons
@sjsimmons · X

@NyteSong You can also fail to read the literature. Here are the peer-reviewed studies I cited proving you wrong. https://t.co/rwG7JokiAE https://t.co/MbdEg5bd2g https://t.co/nU8xl96CqK https://t.co/jajUjbkQnu Let's see if you can read these and do better than you have done so far.

Jan 12, 2023 · 1,268 followers View post →
Hermetic Ascetic
@bibliowanksta · X

@MentalCasanova Even crazier is all the coal on the planet was created at the same point in the planets history. https://t.co/nFMX3Xiliy

Nov 17, 2022 · 1 like · 290 followers View post →
Jim Bowers
@JimBowersclimb · X

@malpheuse @CartoonsJpt That MODEL (geocarb) useless for correlation - that ice age caused by CO2 dropping https://t.co/2H3tJqV0gK

Nov 9, 2022 · 1,980 followers View post →
Dr. Judith Hubbard
@JudithGeology · X

Fossil carbon - in oil, natural gas, and coal - lost its 14C a long time ago. Most of the coal we've burned formed 300-360 MILLION years ago. (Unsurprisingly, when that carbon got locked up, it caused the Earth to cool.) So the 14C all decayed. https://t.co/yP1Labt0yp

Oct 28, 2022 · 1 like · 40,616 followers View post →
Scott Simmons
@sjsimmons · X

@d_e_mol @CPatriot1974 That's a model from 2001, not emprical data. Here's actual empirical data from proxies. Georg Feulner. Coal formation and global glaciation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Oct 2017, 114 (43) 11333-11337; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1712062114 https://t.co/jajUjbkixW https://t.co/46hZbCSB8Z

Sep 9, 2022 · 1,268 followers View post →
Inverted Vibe Curve
@VibesBankRate · X

@ceejayoz @AlexPetrovnia @pookleblinky Which does make the original Tweet incorrect but the followup is true: much of coal deposits in particular formed during the Carboniferous and Permian: https://t.co/vhHWz9KVzY

Jul 2, 2022 · 624 followers View post →
In Salutem
@ISalutem · X

Formation of most of our coal brought Earth close to global glaciation via @PNASNews https://t.co/a6NgSWqspb

Jun 8, 2022 · 405 followers View post →
barth
@barth52 · X

@MrDstrkt @WReynolds20 @FriendsOScience @AdamskiPeter @jkenney @fordnation @PremierScottMoe Not extremely high towards the end of the Carboniferous. But havily fluctuating between ~ 700ppm and ~ 150ppm I am referring to that paper of Feulner, 2017. “Formation of most of our coal brought Earth close to global glaciation” https://t.co/Eey9w548JB https://t.co/JKFZhVLWdv

Oct 2, 2020 · 64 followers View post →
Maynardg
@maynardg59 · X

@luisbaram @LofayPeter Paper: PNAS October 24, 2017 114 (43) 11333-11337; first published October 9, 2017 https://t.co/jKHH2mDBeu

Sep 7, 2020 · 855 followers View post →