Biomarker reconstruction of the early Eocene paleotopography and paleoclimate of the northern Sierra Nevada

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2010 Biomarker reconstruction of the early Eocene paleotopography and paleoclimate of the northern Sierra Nevada Michael T. Hren; Michael T. Hren 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark Pagani; Mark Pagani 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Diane M. Erwin; Diane M. Erwin 2Berkeley Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, California 94720, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mark Brandon Mark Brandon 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Michael T. Hren 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA Mark Pagani 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA Diane M. Erwin 2Berkeley Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley, California 94720, USA Mark Brandon 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 09 Mar 2009 Revision Received: 16 Jul 2009 Accepted: 22 Jul 2009 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2010 Geological Society of America Geology (2010) 38 (1): 7–10. https://doi.org/10.1130/G30215.1 Article history Received: 09 Mar 2009 Revision Received: 16 Jul 2009 Accepted: 22 Jul 2009 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Michael T. Hren, Mark Pagani, Diane M. Erwin, Mark Brandon; Biomarker reconstruction of the early Eocene paleotopography and paleoclimate of the northern Sierra Nevada. Geology 2010;; 38 (1): 7–10. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G30215.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We reconstruct ancient temperature and elevation gradients across the early Eocene (52–49 Ma) northern Sierra Nevada (California, United States) using organic molecular proxies that record atmospheric and ground-level effects of topography. Paleoelevation was determined by reconstructing the change in the hydrogen isotopic composition of precipitation (ΔδDprecip) and mean annual temperature (ΔTGDGT) (glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers) from the isotopic composition of fossil angiosperm leaf n-alkanes and the distribution of microbially produced soil tetraethers preserved in leaf-bearing sediments. Organic molecular data produce equivalent range-scale (δDn-alkane) and channel (TGDGT) paleoelevation estimates that show the northern Sierra Nevada was a warm (>6–8 °C warmer than modern), high-elevation (>2 km), and moderate- to low-relief landscape at the Eocene Climatic Optimum. Modern northern Sierra Nevada topography likely reflects post-Paleocene reduction of mean surface elevation and late Cenozoic increases in relief. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.