North Atlantic Drift Sediments Constrain Eocene Tidal Dissipation and the Evolution of the Earth-Moon System

• Published in: Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology
• Main Authors: De Vleeschouwer D., Penman D. E., D'haenens S., Wu F., Westerhold T., Vahlenkamp M., Cappelli C., Agnini C., Kordesch W. E. C., King D. J., van der Ploeg R., Pälike H., Turner S. K., Wilson P., Norris R. D., Zachos J. C., Bohaty S. M., Hull P. M.
• Other Authors: De Vleeschouwer, D., Penman, D. E., D'Haenens, S., Wu, F., Westerhold, T., Vahlenkamp, M., Cappelli, C., Agnini, C., Kordesch, W. E. C., King, D. J., van der Ploeg, R., Pälike, H., Turner, S. K., Wilson, P., Norris, R. D., Zachos, J. C., Bohaty, S. M., Hull, P. M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: AMER GEOPHYSICAL UNION 2023
• Subjects: Newfoundland; North Atlantic
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3479880; https://doi.org/10.1029/2022PA004555

Cyclostratigraphy and astrochronology are now at the forefront of geologic timekeeping. While this technique heavily relies on the accuracy of astronomical calculations, solar system chaos limits how far back astronomical calculations can be performed with confidence. High-resolution paleoclimate records with Milankovitch imprints now allow reversing the traditional cyclostratigraphic approach: Middle Eocene drift sediments from Newfoundland Ridge are well-suited for this purpose, due to high sedimentation rates and distinct lithological cycles. Per contra, the stratigraphies of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Sites U1408-U1410 are highly complex with several hiatuses. Here, we built a two-site composite and constructed a conservative age-depth model to provide a reliable chronology for this rhythmic, highly resolved (< 1 kyr) sedimentary archive. Astronomical components (g-terms and precession constant) are extracted from proxy time-series using two different techniques, producing consistent results. We find astronomical frequencies up to 4% lower than reported in astronomical solution La04. This solution, however, was smoothed over 20-Myr intervals, and our results therefore provide constraints on g-term variability on shorter, million-year timescales. We also report first evidence that the g(4)-g(3) grand eccentricity cycle may have had a 1.2-Myr period around 41 Ma, contrary to its 2.4-Myr periodicity today. Our median precession constant estimate (51.28 +/- 0.56 ''/year) confirms earlier indicators of a relatively low rate of tidal dissipation in the Paleogene. Newfoundland Ridge drift sediments thus enable a reliable reconstruction of astronomical components at the limit of validity of current astronomical calculations, extracted from geologic data, providing a new target for the next generation of astronomical calculations. Plain Language Summary The traditional cyclostratigraphic approach is to align and correlate a geologic depth-series with an astronomical solution. However, the chaotic nature of ...