What do we know about global warming in the past?  What was our inland region like during and between glacial periods? What kinds of animals and plants lived here? Does the global record of glacial and interglacial periods shed any light on the current global warming debate? Join Curator of Paleontology Eric Scott discuss these issues in his lecture “Global Warming during the Ice Ages,” on Sunday, April 19 at 2pm at the San Bernardino County Museum.

Although we often hear about global warming, we are actually in the midst of Earth’s most recent series of ice ages. Beginning more than two million years ago, near the beginning of the Pleistocene Epoch, these ice ages are characterized by prolonged periods of expanding glaciations and cooler temperatures, punctuated by shorter “interglacial” periods of warming–including the warm (and often hot) period we live in today.

“There’s a raging debate going on about global warming, its effects, and the degree to which humans are impacting global temperatures,” said Scott. “But we only have detailed global climate records for about the past century or so.  In my talk, I’ll look much farther back in time, reviewing our knowledge of the Pleistocene glaciations and their effects on inland southern California.”  Scott’s discussion will also examine climate changes earlier in our planet’s “deep time”, and then briefly touch upon the ultimate “global warming” awaiting all of life in the Earth’s far distant future. It’s a “cool” lecture on a “hot” topic that you won’t want to miss!

The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit from Interstate 10 in Redlands. The museum is open Tuesdays through Sundays and holiday Mondays from 9am to 5pm. Admission is $6 (adult), $5 (student or senior), and $4 (child aged 5 to 12). Children under five and Museum Association members are admitted free. Parking is free. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org.

The museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. If assistive listening devices or other auxiliary aids are needed in order to participate in museum exhibits or programs, requests should be made through Museum Visitor Services at least three business days prior to your visit. Visitor Services’ telephone number is 909-307-2669 ext. 229 or (TDD) 909-792-1462.