Middle Eocene Paleoceanography and Astrochronology in the Western North Atlantic

Abstract

The middle Eocene (47.8-38 Ma) marks the transition from the early Cenozoic greenhouse into the late Cenozoic icehouse climate. The early Cenozoic was characterized by warm temperatures, high atmospheric CO2 concentration ( 1000 ppm) and a non-existent or minor cryosphere. The climatic cooling towards the major glaciation of Antarctica is only partially covered by sedimentary records from scientific deep-sea drilling, which allow for high- resolution paleoceanographic studies. In the context of anthropogenic CO2 emissions and consequent global warming, the study of the nature and causes of climatic variability and the role of the ocean in the climate system during greenhouse climate is one of the fundamental challenges of paleoclimatology. Studying past times of extreme warmth and elevated CO2 enables us to anticipate the magnitude and potential consequences of future climate change. To understand the sequence of climatic, biotic and tectonic events before, during and after the ...