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Leaf sensor for CO2 in deep time

Nature volume 411, pages 247–248 (2001)Cite this article

How long have CO2 and climate been linked? At least 300 million years, according to the results of a neat technique that exploits the relationship between concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere and pores in leaves.

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Figure 1: A fossil Ginkgo leaf.

JIM FRAZIER/MARY E. WHITE

Figure 2: Levels of CO2 in the atmosphere (bottom) and temperature trends over the past 300 million years.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Palaeobotany and Palynology, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, Utrecht, 3584 CD, The Netherlands

    Wolfram M. Kürschner

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  1. Wolfram M. Kürschner
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Correspondence to Wolfram M. Kürschner.

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Kürschner, W. Leaf sensor for CO2 in deep time. Nature 411, 247–248 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35077181

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