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Surface water freshening and high-latitude river discharge in the Eocene North Sea.

Zacke A, Voigt S, Joachimski M, Gale AS, Ward DJ, Tuetken T (2009)

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Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2009

Journal

Publisher: Geological Society

Book Volume: 166

Pages Range: 969-980

DOI: 10.1144/0016-76492008-068

Abstract

A shark-tooth apatite δ¹⁸O record of the early Palaeogene North Sea reflects changes in regional hydrography by showing variable temperatures and salinities. A 2-4 Ma period in the early Eocene was particularly influenced by substantial surface-water freshening, indicated by a 3-4‰ reduction of δ¹⁸O values. The magnitude of the δ¹⁸O decrease indicates a depletion in ¹⁸O of surface waters by 2-3‰ relative to Eocene mean ocean water. This value is lower than that of coeval lakes reconstructed from freshwater gastropod δ¹⁸O values from the Paris Basin, suggesting that large rivers with high-latitude catchment areas drained into the North Sea. The period of surface-water freshening began close to the Palaeocene - Eocene thermal maximum, when relative sea-level fall, tectonic uplift and basaltic volcanism caused a temporary isolation of the North Sea. North Atlantic and North Sea surface waters became reconnected during a series of early Eocene transgressions. © 2009 Geological Society of London.

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APA:

Zacke, A., Voigt, S., Joachimski, M., Gale, A.S., Ward, D.J., & Tuetken, T. (2009). Surface water freshening and high-latitude river discharge in the Eocene North Sea. Journal of the Geological Society, 166, 969-980. https://doi.org/10.1144/0016-76492008-068

MLA:

Zacke, Anne, et al. "Surface water freshening and high-latitude river discharge in the Eocene North Sea." Journal of the Geological Society 166 (2009): 969-980.

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