The Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project examines human and geological history through minerals extracted from lakes including Lake Magadi (above), the southernmost lake in the Kenyan Rift Valley,

The Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project examines human and geological history through minerals extracted from lakes including Lake Magadi (above), the southernmost lake in the Kenyan Rift Valley, / Wikimedia Commons

Global temperatures are on track to rise 3-5 degrees by the year 2100, according to the United Nations Meteorological Organization. That level of climate change is anticipated to negatively impact every aspect of human life — from health to agriculture to the economy.

The last time humans had to adapt to the changing environment on a global scale was hundreds of thousands of years ago, when homo erectus lived in Africa. An international team of geologists and anthropologists, among them Dan Deocampo of Georgia State University, has been studying that period in hopes we might learn from our ancient ancestors about surviving climate change.

On Second Thought host Virginia Prescott speaks with Dan Deocampo.

Deocampo, a geologist and geochemist, has worked on the Hominin Sites and Paleolakes Drilling Project in eastern Africa for years. He joined On Second Thought to share his hypotheses, methods and findings.

 

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Tags: earth science  human evolution  dan deocampo  hominin sites and paleolakes drilling project  lake magadi  geology  Anthropology  climate change  Georgia State University  Atlanta