News in Brief Climate

Earth’s last major warm period was as hot as today

At peak of previous interglacial interval, sea levels were 6 to 9 meters higher

sea level map

HISTORIC HEAT  Sea levels were 6 to 9 meters higher than present-day levels the last time Earth’s climate was this warm, new research suggests. Similar sea level rise today would submerge many coastal areas (red).

John C. Kostelnick (data), GSFC/NASA (visualization)

By Thomas Sumner

- More than 2 years ago

The last time Earth’s thermostat was cranked as high as it is today, sea levels were high enough to completely drown New Orleans (had it existed at the time), new research suggests.