About 100 million years ago, sea levels were about 300 metres higher than at present because of changes in thevolume of ocean basins due to movement by the Earth's techtonic plates.
Although coal does not often contain high concentrations of mercury, the authors say the "combination of the large volume burned and the fact that a significant portion of the mercury present is emitted into the atmosphere results in large overall emissions from the sector".
However, in thepresent supply glut is gas, its reduction in gas volume transportation revenues may be offset by higher storage revenues from natural gas.
Though this first volume concludes with the French revolution (a second, charting developments up to thepresent day, is in the works) its insights are relevant to our understanding of modern states and how they became what they are.