arctoarc

Arctoarc is a term sometimes used in paleontology and paleoecology to refer to a hypothetical past biome or climatic zone characterized by specific conditions. The name is derived from "arcto-" meaning northern or related to bears, and "arc" potentially referring to a broad region or an arc-shaped area. It suggests a connection to high-latitude or polar environments, possibly during periods with significantly different global climates than today.

The concept of arctoarc environments often arises when discussing fossil evidence of flora and fauna that appear to have thrived in regions now considered too cold or otherwise unsuitable for them. This implies significant climatic shifts over geological timescales, such as during warmer interglacial periods or even different geological eras. The study of such hypothetical biomes helps scientists reconstruct past ecosystems and understand the drivers of climate change.

While not a formally established scientific term with a precise definition, "arctoarc" serves as a descriptive label for areas that might have supported a unique assemblage of life adapted to conditions that were neither fully polar nor temperate, existing in a transitional or fluctuating northern climatic belt. Research in this area often involves analyzing sediment cores, fossil distributions, and paleoclimatic proxy data to infer the nature of these ancient environments.