International symposium discusses the evolution of Earth and climate change

From 18 to 21 July, the 14^th International Symposium on the Ordovician System will take place in Tallinn, focusing on the evolution of Earth and life several hundred million years ago and its impact on shaping the modern environment.

Top researchers from Europe, North and South America, Asia and Australia participating in the conference arrived in Estonia last week already. Together, they made a tour of Estonia’s geological sights along the North Estonian coast, visiting quarries and bedrock outcrops. For example, they went to the open-pit oil shale mine in Põhja-Kiviõli and the Aru-Lõuna limestone quarry, the Reinu and Sutlema limestone quarries in Rapla County, and the Vasalemma quarry in Harju County.

During the four-day symposium, the participants will get an overview of the most important discoveries of recent years. One of the chief organisers, Tõnu Meidla, Professor of Palaeontology and Stratigraphy at the University of Tartu, summarised the conference themes as follows: “More than 400 million years ago, the Ordovician played an important role in shaping the evolution of modern Earth and the life forms we know today. Studying this era is crucial for a deeper understanding of Earth’s history, the evolution of life, climate change, and geological processes.”

Various natural resources, including our oil shale, were formed during the Ordovician period. “Research helps us understand the origins of many of today’s species and ecosystems and provides valuable lessons about how life responds to the harsh environmental changes and extinctions we are currently facing,” said Meidla.

Olle Hints, a Tenured Associate Professor in Geology at Tallinn University of Technology, said that by learning from the past, researchers can refine climate models, improve projections of future climate change and help develop more efficient policies to mitigate climate change. “Studying climate and environmental changes in the Ordovician will enhance our understanding of the Earth’s climate system in general and its sensitivity to different drivers, including changes in greenhouse gas concentrations,” he said.

The conference schedule and other information are available on the event website.

The organisers and supporters of the symposium include the University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology, the Geological Survey of Estonia, the Scandinavian non-profit organisation Lethaia Foundation, and the Swedish Geologiska Föreningen.