What caused the Paleocene and Eocene periods to be so warm?

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SUMMARY

The Paleocene and Eocene periods, occurring 35-65 million years ago, were characterized by significantly warmer global temperatures, influenced by factors such as the closed Drake Passage and the open Panama Isthmus. Contrary to assumptions of a uniformly tropical climate, Antarctica exhibited a temperate rainforest ecosystem rather than a tropical one. Deep ocean currents during this time were notably warmer, contributing to a reduced temperature gradient between the equator and the poles. This indicates that the warmth was not merely regional but rather a global phenomenon, albeit with considerable variation over the 20 million-year span.

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Paleocene and Eocene were very warm, due to only tropical-like Antarctica findings? 35-65 myr ago, Antarctica would still be at south pole. And one would have a long night of 4-5 months; so not entirely like our tropics. Has the literature assumed that the entire planet is very warm? Drake's passage was closed, and Panama isthmus was probably open. Nothing is known about paleo-oceanic currents. Was a warm current perhaps wrapped around Antarctica; hence only regional warming?
 
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At it's warmest during those periods, Antarctica was not tropical like.
Instead, the polar regions were at most a temperate rainforest.

Deep ocean currents are known to have been much warmer than they are now.
The tropics were larger and the temperature gradient between the equator and poles smaller. Clearly not a case of regional warming.

Still, you are referring to a period of 20 million years.
There was lots of variation over that time; but yes a considerably warmer period.
 

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