Extinction patterns, δ^(18) O trends, and magnetostratigraphy from a southern high-latitude Cretaceous–Paleogene section: Links with Deccan volcanism

• Published in: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
• Main Authors: Tobin, Thomas S., Ward, Peter D., Steig, Eric J., Olivero, Eduardo B., Hilburn, Isaac A., Mitchell, Ross N., Diamond, Matthew R., Raub, Timothy D., Kirschvink, Joseph L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2012
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Seymour; Seymour Island; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://authors.library.caltech.edu/35186/; https://authors.library.caltech.edu/35186/2/mmc1.doc; https://authors.library.caltech.edu/35186/3/mmc2.txt; https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20121030-150317203

Although abundant evidence now exists for a massive bolide impact coincident with the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) mass extinction event (~ 65.5 Ma), the relative importance of this impact as an extinction mechanism is still the subject of debate. On Seymour Island, Antarctic Peninsula, the López de Bertodano Formation yields one of the most expanded K–Pg boundary sections known. Using a new chronology from magnetostratigraphy, and isotopic data from carbonate-secreting macrofauna, we present a high-resolution, high-latitude paleotemperature record spanning this time interval. We find two prominent warming events synchronous with the three main phases of Deccan Traps flood volcanism, and the onset of the second is contemporaneous with a local extinction that pre-dates the bolide impact. What has been termed the K–Pg extinction is potentially the sum of multiple, independent events, at least at high latitudes.