Middle–Late Cretaceous climate of the southern high latitudes: Stable isotopic evidence for minimal equator-to-pole thermal gradients

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 1995 Middle–Late Cretaceous climate of the southern high latitudes: Stable isotopic evidence for minimal equator-to-pole thermal gradients Brian T. Huber; Brian T. Huber 1Department of Geology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David A. Hodell; David A. Hodell 2Department of Paleobiology, MRC-121, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Christopher P. Hamilton Christopher P. Hamilton 1Department of Geology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1995) 107 (10): 1164–1191. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1995)107<1164:MLCCOT>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Brian T. Huber, David A. Hodell, Christopher P. Hamilton; Middle–Late Cretaceous climate of the southern high latitudes: Stable isotopic evidence for minimal equator-to-pole thermal gradients. GSA Bulletin 1995;; 107 (10): 1164–1191. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1995)107<1164:MLCCOT>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract A detailed δ18O and δ13C stratigraphy has been generated from analysis of well-preserved Albian–early Maastrichtian foraminifera from Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) Sites 511 and 327 (Falkland Plateau; ≈58° S–62° S paleolatitude) in the southern South Atlantic, and Cenomanian and Coniacian–Santonian foraminifera from DSDP Site 258 (Naturaliste Plateau; ≈58° S paleolatitude) in the southern Indian Ocean. These results, when combined with previously published Maastrichtian stable isotope data from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 690 (Weddell Sea, ≈65° S paleolatitude), provide new insight into the climatic and oceanographic history of the southern high latitudes during middle–Late Cretaceous time. The planktonic foraminifer δ18O curves reveal a gradual warming of surface waters from the Albian through the Cenomanian followed by extremely warm surface waters from the Turonian through the early Campanian. Long-term cooling of surface waters began in the late early Campanian and continued through the end of the Maastrichtian. The benthic foraminifer δ18O record generally parallels changes in the oxygen isotopic curves defined by shallow-dwelling planktonic foraminifera. The vertical oxygen and carbon isotopic gradients were relatively low during the Albian–Cenomanian, high from the Turonian–early Campanian, and then low during the late Campanian and Maastrichtian.Foraminiferal oxygen isotopic data from published sources and this study are averaged for each site, corrected for latitudinal changes in salinity based on modern-day surface-water values, and plotted versus paleolatitude for the late Albian, Coniacian–Santonian, and late Maastrichtian. Differences between lowand high-latitude surface-water paleotemperatures are estimated at ≈14 ° C during the late Albian and late Maastrichtian, but the Coniacian–Santonian reconstruction reveals only a 0–4 ° C latitudinal temperature gradient. Uncertainty regarding Cretaceous salinity gradients and possible diagenetic alteration of δ18O values introduce error into our estimates of paleolatitudinal thermal gradients; however, apparent low equator-to-pole temperature differences could indicate much higher poleward heat transport than at present. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.