Story perspectives

Leeds Study: Weathering Limited Warming, Burning Fuels Could Add 10°C

7/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

University of Leeds published 9 July 2026 study, led by Dr Dongyu Zheng, using Chemical Index of Alteration and models to examine warm periods.
The authors found those periods were about 10 °C above pre-industrial levels and said weathering regulated temperature for 540 million years, implying lower CO2 sensitivity.
Senior author Prof Benjamin Mills warned that burning all fossil-fuel reserves could cause a 10 °C rise and urged climate regulation because systems act too slowly.

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Story summary

University of Leeds published 9 July 2026 study, led by Dr Dongyu Zheng, using Chemical Index of Alteration and models to examine warm periods.
The authors found those periods were about 10 °C above pre-industrial levels and said weathering regulated temperature for 540 million years, implying lower CO2 sensitivity.
Senior author Prof Benjamin Mills warned that burning all fossil-fuel reserves could cause a 10 °C rise and urged climate regulation because systems act too slowly.