News Paleontology Ancient wood points to arctic greenhouse By Sid Perkins May 13, 2003 at 10:48 am - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Chemical analyses of wood that grew in an ancient arctic forest suggest that the air there once was about twice as humid as it is now. About 45 million years ago, forests of redwoods grew on what is now Axel Heiberg Island, a Maryland-size landmass off the northern coast of Canada.