Winter and summer temperatures of the early middle Eocene of France from Turritella δ18O profiles

Abstract

Research Article| December 01, 1996 Winter and summer temperatures of the early middle Eocene of France from Turritella δ18O profiles Fredrik P. Andreasson; Fredrik P. Andreasson 1Department of Marine Geology, Earth Sciences Centre, Göteborg University, S-413 81 Göteborg, Sweden Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Birger Schmitz Birger Schmitz 1Department of Marine Geology, Earth Sciences Centre, Göteborg University, S-413 81 Göteborg, Sweden Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1996) 24 (12): 1067–1070. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<1067:WASTOT>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Fredrik P. Andreasson, Birger Schmitz; Winter and summer temperatures of the early middle Eocene of France from Turritella δ18O profiles. Geology 1996;; 24 (12): 1067–1070. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<1067:WASTOT>2.3.CO;2 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 mean annual range of temperature is, from a climatological point of view, at least as important as the mean annual temperature. In order to examine intra-annual temperature variations in the warm early Cenozoic, we have analyzed stable oxygen and carbon isotopes along the transect of growth on excellently preserved specimens of the gastropod Turritella imbricataria and the bivalve Venericardia imbricata from sedimentary rocks of early middle Eocene age (ca. 46 Ma) in the Paris basin. Turritella shell growth is fast throughout the year, and the isotopic records give the first detailed information about early middle Eocene seasonal variations. The oxygen isotope profiles indicate winter temperatures of about 14 °C and summer temperatures of up to 28 °C, i.e., a seasonality indistinguishable from the present situation but an annual temperature some 10 °C higher. Our results contradict the opinion that the climate during this period was more “equable” than that of today. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.