Growth of subtropical forests in Miocene Europe: The roles of carbon dioxide and Antarctic ice volume

Abstract

Research Article| June 01, 2012 Growth of subtropical forests in Miocene Europe: The roles of carbon dioxide and Antarctic ice volume N. Hamon; N. Hamon 1Institut de Paléoprimatologie, Paléontologie Humaine: Evolution et Paléoenvironnements, CNRS-INEE, Université de Poitiers, 86022 Poitiers, France2Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'environnement, CNRS-CEA-UVSQ, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar P. Sepulchre; P. Sepulchre 2Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'environnement, CNRS-CEA-UVSQ, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Y. Donnadieu; Y. Donnadieu 2Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'environnement, CNRS-CEA-UVSQ, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A.-J. Henrot; A.-J. Henrot 3Unité de Modélisation du Climat et des Cycles Biogéochimiques, University of Liège, Liège B-4000, Belgium Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar L. François; L. François 3Unité de Modélisation du Climat et des Cycles Biogéochimiques, University of Liège, Liège B-4000, Belgium Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar J.-J. Jaeger; J.-J. Jaeger 1Institut de Paléoprimatologie, Paléontologie Humaine: Evolution et Paléoenvironnements, CNRS-INEE, Université de Poitiers, 86022 Poitiers, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G. Ramstein G. Ramstein 2Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'environnement, CNRS-CEA-UVSQ, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2012) 40 (6): 567–570. https://doi.org/10.1130/G32990.1 Article history received: 02 Nov 2011 rev-recd: 09 Jan 2012 accepted: 23 Jan 2012 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 N. Hamon, P. Sepulchre, Y. Donnadieu, A.-J. Henrot, L. François, J.-J. Jaeger, G. Ramstein; Growth of subtropical forests in Miocene Europe: The roles of carbon dioxide and Antarctic ice volume. Geology 2012;; 40 (6): 567–570. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G32990.1 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 The middle Miocene is a crucial period for the evolution of apes, and it corresponds to their appearance in Europe. The dispersion of apes was made possible by tectonic changes and the expansion of their habitat, (sub-) tropical forest, in Europe. The context in which the middle Miocene climatic optimum occurred still lacks constraints in terms of atmospheric pCO2 and ice-sheet volume and extent. Using a coupled atmosphere-ocean general circulation model (GCM) and dynamic vegetation model, we investigated the sensitivity of Miocene climate and vegetation to pCO2 levels and Antarctic ice-sheet configurations. Our results indicate that higher than present pCO2 is necessary to simulate subtropical forest in Western and Central Europe during the middle Miocene, but that a threshold at high pCO2 makes subtropical forest partly collapse. Moreover, removing ice over Antarctica modifies oceanic circulation and induces warmer and slightly wetter conditions in Europe, which are consistent with the expansion of subtropical forest. These results suggest that a small East Antarctic Ice Sheet (25% of present-day ice volume) together with higher than present pCO2 values are in better agreement with available European middle Miocene data. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.