Stress in the tropics? Impact of a latitudinal seawater delta O-18 gradient on Middle Jurassic temperature reconstructions at low latitudes
Alberti M, Leshno Y, Fürsich F, Edelman-Furstenberg Y, Andersen N, Garbe-Schoenberg D (2020)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2020
Journal
Book Volume: 48
Pages Range: 1210-1215
Journal Issue: 12
DOI: 10.1130/G47824.1
Abstract
Previous stable oxygen isotope records of calcitic fossils (delta O-18(shell)) from Europe have been interpreted to reflect strong climatic perturbations throughout the Jurassic, but it is unknown whether they reflect global trends because data from other regions are sparse. Here, we use bivalve and brachiopod shells from western Asia and northern Africa to examine seawater temperatures at low latitudes as well as latitudinal temperature gradients in the Middle Jurassic. Our results include the first absolute temperature estimates for most of the study areas and this time interval. Furthermore, we acknowledge a latitudinal gradient in delta O-18 values of seawater (delta O-18(sea)) that leads to more realistic temperature reconstructions of tropical water temperatures, which were underestimated by earlier methods. Following this approach, delta O-18(shell) values translate into average equatorial water temperatures during the Middle Jurassic several degrees higher than today (as high as 34-35 degrees C). Such high temperatures cause environmental stress, probably explaining previously documented low diversities of low-latitudinal ecosystems (e.g., coral reefs) during this time interval. A comparison with literature data raises doubts over whether previously published European temperature curves are truly representative of global patterns. Instead, they might reflect the complex paleogeography of European basins influenced by regional and/or short-term changes in delta O-18(sea) values.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Germany (DE)
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Israel (IL)
Geological Survey of Israel
Israel (IL)
Germany (DE)
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Israel (IL)
Geological Survey of Israel
Israel (IL)
How to cite
APA:
Alberti, M., Leshno, Y., Fürsich, F., Edelman-Furstenberg, Y., Andersen, N., & Garbe-Schoenberg, D. (2020). Stress in the tropics? Impact of a latitudinal seawater delta O-18 gradient on Middle Jurassic temperature reconstructions at low latitudes. Geology, 48(12), 1210-1215. https://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G47824.1
MLA:
Alberti, Matthias, et al. "Stress in the tropics? Impact of a latitudinal seawater delta O-18 gradient on Middle Jurassic temperature reconstructions at low latitudes." Geology 48.12 (2020): 1210-1215.
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