Abstract
THE first feelings of surprise caused by the discovery of remains of warmer-temperate, sub-tropical, and even tropical plants within the Arctic circle, of, geologically speaking, comparatively recent age, have now-died away, and we no longer find that their presence there forms so favoured a theme for speculation. The time appears to have arrived when we may critically examine the botanical evidence upon which estimates of the past degree of warmth enjoyed by the Arctic regions have to be formed. The method open to us is very simple: we have, it seems, only to first set aside determinations that are clearly little more than guesses; then ascertain the minimum mean temperature required by the remaining groups of plants to flourish at the present day; and the sum of these temperatures should furnish reliable results for each period.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
GARDNER, J. Observations on Arctic Fossil Floras with Regard to Temperature . Nature 22, 341–342 (1880). https://doi.org/10.1038/022341a0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/022341a0