Pliocene climate and seasonality in North Atlantic shelf seas
This paper reviews North Atlantic shelf seas palaeoclimate during the interval 4–3 Ma, prior to and incorporating the ‘Mid-Pliocene warm period’ ( ca 3.29–2.97 Ma). Fossil assemblages and stable isotope data demonstrate northwards extension of subtropical faunas along the coast of the Carolinas–Virg...
Published in: | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences |
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 |
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crroyalsociety:10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 2024-09-15T18:21:33+00:00 Pliocene climate and seasonality in North Atlantic shelf seas Williams, Mark Haywood, Alan M Harper, Elizabeth M Johnson, Andrew L.A Knowles, Tanya Leng, Melanie J Lunt, Daniel J Okamura, Beth Taylor, Paul D Zalasiewicz, Jan 2008 http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 en eng The Royal Society https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences volume 367, issue 1886, page 85-108 ISSN 1364-503X 1471-2962 journal-article 2008 crroyalsociety https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 2024-07-29T04:23:19Z This paper reviews North Atlantic shelf seas palaeoclimate during the interval 4–3 Ma, prior to and incorporating the ‘Mid-Pliocene warm period’ ( ca 3.29–2.97 Ma). Fossil assemblages and stable isotope data demonstrate northwards extension of subtropical faunas along the coast of the Carolinas–Virginia (Yorktown and Duplin Formations) relative to the present day, suggesting a more vigorous Florida Current, with reduced seasonality and warm water extending north of Cape Hatteras (reconstructed annual range for Virginia 12–30°C). This interpretation supports conceptual models of increased meridional heat transport for the Pliocene. Sea temperatures for Florida (Lower Pinecrest Beds) were similar to or slightly cooler than (summers 25–27°C) today, and were probably influenced by seasonal upwelling of cold deep water. Reduced seasonality is also apparent in the Coralline Crag Formation of the southern North Sea, with ostracods suggesting winter sea temperatures of 10°C (modern 4°C). However, estimates from Pliocene bivalves (3.6–16.6°C) are similar to or cooler than the present day. This ‘mixed’ signal is problematic given warmer seas in the Carolinas–Virginia, and climate model and oceanographic data that show warmer seas in the ‘Mid-Pliocene’ eastern North Atlantic. This may be because the Coralline Crag Formation was deposited prior to peak Mid-Pliocene warmth. Article in Journal/Newspaper North Atlantic The Royal Society Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 367 1886 85 108 |
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Open Polar |
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The Royal Society |
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crroyalsociety |
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English |
description |
This paper reviews North Atlantic shelf seas palaeoclimate during the interval 4–3 Ma, prior to and incorporating the ‘Mid-Pliocene warm period’ ( ca 3.29–2.97 Ma). Fossil assemblages and stable isotope data demonstrate northwards extension of subtropical faunas along the coast of the Carolinas–Virginia (Yorktown and Duplin Formations) relative to the present day, suggesting a more vigorous Florida Current, with reduced seasonality and warm water extending north of Cape Hatteras (reconstructed annual range for Virginia 12–30°C). This interpretation supports conceptual models of increased meridional heat transport for the Pliocene. Sea temperatures for Florida (Lower Pinecrest Beds) were similar to or slightly cooler than (summers 25–27°C) today, and were probably influenced by seasonal upwelling of cold deep water. Reduced seasonality is also apparent in the Coralline Crag Formation of the southern North Sea, with ostracods suggesting winter sea temperatures of 10°C (modern 4°C). However, estimates from Pliocene bivalves (3.6–16.6°C) are similar to or cooler than the present day. This ‘mixed’ signal is problematic given warmer seas in the Carolinas–Virginia, and climate model and oceanographic data that show warmer seas in the ‘Mid-Pliocene’ eastern North Atlantic. This may be because the Coralline Crag Formation was deposited prior to peak Mid-Pliocene warmth. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Williams, Mark Haywood, Alan M Harper, Elizabeth M Johnson, Andrew L.A Knowles, Tanya Leng, Melanie J Lunt, Daniel J Okamura, Beth Taylor, Paul D Zalasiewicz, Jan |
spellingShingle |
Williams, Mark Haywood, Alan M Harper, Elizabeth M Johnson, Andrew L.A Knowles, Tanya Leng, Melanie J Lunt, Daniel J Okamura, Beth Taylor, Paul D Zalasiewicz, Jan Pliocene climate and seasonality in North Atlantic shelf seas |
author_facet |
Williams, Mark Haywood, Alan M Harper, Elizabeth M Johnson, Andrew L.A Knowles, Tanya Leng, Melanie J Lunt, Daniel J Okamura, Beth Taylor, Paul D Zalasiewicz, Jan |
author_sort |
Williams, Mark |
title |
Pliocene climate and seasonality in North Atlantic shelf seas |
title_short |
Pliocene climate and seasonality in North Atlantic shelf seas |
title_full |
Pliocene climate and seasonality in North Atlantic shelf seas |
title_fullStr |
Pliocene climate and seasonality in North Atlantic shelf seas |
title_full_unstemmed |
Pliocene climate and seasonality in North Atlantic shelf seas |
title_sort |
pliocene climate and seasonality in north atlantic shelf seas |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 |
genre |
North Atlantic |
genre_facet |
North Atlantic |
op_source |
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences volume 367, issue 1886, page 85-108 ISSN 1364-503X 1471-2962 |
op_rights |
https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2008.0224 |
container_title |
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences |
container_volume |
367 |
container_issue |
1886 |
container_start_page |
85 |
op_container_end_page |
108 |
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1810460172530745344 |