High‐Resolution Lake Deposits Record Temperature Variability During the Middle Eocene Greenhouse in Central Europe

A previously unknown 'hyperthermal-like' global warming event was identified during the middle Eocene greenhouse period (47.5 million years ago) using high-resolution lake deposits from the Messel Pit Fossil Site, Germany. The study revealed that continental temperatures in Central Europe fluctuated between 21–28°C over a 430,000-year span, transitioning from a highly variable pattern to a more stable state. This shift may have been linked to orbital configurations or changes in the North Atlantic seaway. Researchers used terrestrial biomarkers preserved in maar sediments to reconstruct temperature variability under high atmospheric CO₂ conditions, providing critical insights into past climate dynamics. The findings align with concurrent marine isotopic excursions, underscoring the site's significance for understanding global climate events.

Schmitt, C., Vasiliev, I., Meijer, N., & Mulch, A. (2025). High‐Resolution Lake Deposits Record Temperature Variability During the Middle Eocene Greenhouse in Central Europe. Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology, 40(7). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2024pa005047