Discussion meeting issue ‘Hyperthermals: rapid and extreme global warming in our geological past’ compiled and edited by Gavin L. Foster, Pincelli Hull, Daniel J. Lunt and James C. Zachos

About the issue

Earth’s history is peppered with rapid and extreme global warming events collectively known as hyperthermals. Although none were as rapid as human-induced climate change, most are associated with major extinction events and were invariably caused by the injection of huge volumes of carbon into the ancient atmosphere. In this issue we explore what we can learn about our possible future from these dramatic ancient events.