Molluscan stable isotope temperature estimates of the southwestern Ross Sea during the Early Oligocene and Early Miocene, CRP-2/2A and CRP-3, Victoria Land basin, Antarctica
Stable isotope analyses of marine bivalve growth increment samples have been used to estimate early Oligocene (29.4 - 31.2) Ma and early Miocene (24.0 Ma) seafloor palaeotemperatures from the southwestern continental margin of the Ross Sea. Measured d18O values average +2.5‰ in the early Miocene and range between +1.26 to +3.24‰ in the early Oligocene. The results show that palaeoceanographic conditions in McMurdo Sound during the mid-Cenozoic were
significantly different from those of today. The minimum estimated spring through late summer seasonal temperature range was 3°C during the early Miocene and between 1 and 5°C during the early Oligocene. This compares to the equivalent modern day range of <0.5°C within the sound. Absolute seawater temperatures at <100 m depth were of the order of 5 to 7°C during both time slices, compared to modern day values of -1.4 to -1.9°C in the same area. The results are in broad agreement with early Oligocene Mg/Ca temperature estimates from deep Atlantic foraminifera as well as estimates from local terrestrial palynology and
palaeobotany.
Details
Publication status:
Published
Author(s):
Authors: Lavelle, M., Fielding, C.R., Hall, M.A., Thomson, M.R.A.
Date:
1 January, 2001
Journal/Source:
Terra Antartica / 8
Page(s):
439-444
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