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Title: Eocene Arctic Ocean and earth's Early Cenozoic climate

Abstract

Seasonal changes of the Arctic Ocean are an approximate microcosm of the present advanced interglacial climate of the Earth. A similar relationship has existed for several million years but was the Early Cenozoic Arctic Ocean an analog of Earth's climate, as well. Absence of polar ice during the Cretaceous is relatively well established. During the Cenozoic a worldwide decrease in mean annual ocean temperature resulted from such factors as altered oceanic circulation and lower atmospheric CO/sub 2/ levels. Limited Arctic Ocean data for the middle or late Eocene indicate the presence of upwelling conditions and accompanying high productivity of diatoms, ebridians, silicoflagellates and archaeomonads. During this interval, some seasonality is suggested from the varve-like nature of a single sediment core. However, the absence of drop stones or any ice-rafted sediment supports the idea of an open water, ice-free central Arctic Ocean during this time. Latest Cretaceous Arctic Ocean sediment is interpreted to represent approximately the same conditions as those suggested for the Eocene and together with that data suggest that the central Arctic Ocean was ice-free during part if not all of the first 20 my of the Cenozoic. Sediment representing the succeeding 30 my has not been recovered butmore » by latest Miocene or earl Pliocene, ice-rafted sediment was accumulating, both pack ice and icebergs covered the Arctic Ocean reflecting cyclic glacial climate.« less

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
6654535
Report Number(s):
CONF-8510489-
Journal ID: CODEN: GAAPB
Resource Type:
Conference
Journal Name:
Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 17; Conference: 98. annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, Orlando, FL, USA, 28 Oct 1985
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; ARCTIC OCEAN; PALEOCLIMATOLOGY; SEDIMENTS; STRATIGRAPHY; CRETACEOUS PERIOD; EOCENE EPOCH; FORAMINIFERA; GLACIERS; POPULATION DENSITY; PRODUCTIVITY; SEASONAL VARIATIONS; ANIMALS; CENOZOIC ERA; GEOLOGIC AGES; GEOLOGY; INVERTEBRATES; MESOZOIC ERA; MICROORGANISMS; PALEONTOLOGY; PROTOZOA; SARCODINA; SEAS; SURFACE WATERS; TERTIARY PERIOD; VARIATIONS; 580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Clark, D L. Eocene Arctic Ocean and earth's Early Cenozoic climate. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Clark, D L. Eocene Arctic Ocean and earth's Early Cenozoic climate. United States.
Clark, D L. 1985. "Eocene Arctic Ocean and earth's Early Cenozoic climate". United States.
@article{osti_6654535,
title = {Eocene Arctic Ocean and earth's Early Cenozoic climate},
author = {Clark, D L},
abstractNote = {Seasonal changes of the Arctic Ocean are an approximate microcosm of the present advanced interglacial climate of the Earth. A similar relationship has existed for several million years but was the Early Cenozoic Arctic Ocean an analog of Earth's climate, as well. Absence of polar ice during the Cretaceous is relatively well established. During the Cenozoic a worldwide decrease in mean annual ocean temperature resulted from such factors as altered oceanic circulation and lower atmospheric CO/sub 2/ levels. Limited Arctic Ocean data for the middle or late Eocene indicate the presence of upwelling conditions and accompanying high productivity of diatoms, ebridians, silicoflagellates and archaeomonads. During this interval, some seasonality is suggested from the varve-like nature of a single sediment core. However, the absence of drop stones or any ice-rafted sediment supports the idea of an open water, ice-free central Arctic Ocean during this time. Latest Cretaceous Arctic Ocean sediment is interpreted to represent approximately the same conditions as those suggested for the Eocene and together with that data suggest that the central Arctic Ocean was ice-free during part if not all of the first 20 my of the Cenozoic. Sediment representing the succeeding 30 my has not been recovered but by latest Miocene or earl Pliocene, ice-rafted sediment was accumulating, both pack ice and icebergs covered the Arctic Ocean reflecting cyclic glacial climate.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6654535}, journal = {Geol. Soc. Am., Abstr. Programs; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 17,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}

Conference:
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