Astronomical calibration of the Paleocene time

By T. Westerhold, U. Röhl, I. Raffi, E. Fornaciari, S. Monechi, V. Reale, J. Bowles, H. Evans. 2008

304 citations recorded by the source corpus.

The first complete cyclic sedimentary successions for the early Paleogene from drilling multiple holes have been retrieved during two ODP expeditions: Leg 198 (Shatsky Rise, NW Pacific Ocean) and Leg 208 (Walvis Ridge, SE Atlantic Ocean). These new records allow us to construct a comprehensive astronomically calibrated stratigraphic framework with an unprecedented accuracy for both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans covering the entire Paleocene epoch based on the identification of the stable long-eccentricity cycle (405-kyr). High resolution X-ray fluorescence (XRF) core scanner and non-destructive core logging data from Sites 1209 through 1211 (Leg 198) and Sites 1262, 1267 (Leg 208) are the basis for such a robust chronostratigraphy. Former investigated marine (ODP Sites 1001 and 1051) and land-based (e.g., Zumaia) sections have been integrated as well. The high-fidelity chronology is the prerequisite for deciphering mechanisms in relation to prominent transient climatic events as well as completely new insights into Greenhouse climate variability in the early Paleogene. We demonstrate that the Paleocene epoch covers 24 long eccentricity cycles. We also show that no definite absolute age datums for the K/Pg boundary or the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) can be provided by now, because of still existing uncertainties in orbital solutions and radiometric dating. However, we provide two options for tuning of the Paleocene which are only offset by 405-kyr. Our orbitally calibrated integrated Leg 208 magnetostratigraphy is used to revise the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale (GPTS) for Chron C29 to C25. We established a high-resolution calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy for the South Atlantic which allows a much more detailed relative scaling of stages with biozones. The re-evaluation of the South Atlantic spreading rate model features higher frequent oscillations in spreading rates for magnetochron C28r, C27n, and C26n.

Subfields: Atmospheric Science, Molecular Biology, Paleontology

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/7ae3a8ad03a6383da2e482caba8b0b121dab4d9b

How researchers see this paper

The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.

In Atmospheric Science

1. Linda Hinnov
2. U. Röhl
3. T. Westerhold
4. Jacques Laskar
5. M. Woodburne

In Molecular Biology

1. Linda Hinnov
2. U. Röhl
3. T. Westerhold
4. Jacques Laskar
5. H. Manche
6. Mickaël Gastineau
7. A. Fienga

In Paleontology

1. F. Goin
2. C. Muizon
3. J. Gelfo
4. Jacques Laskar
5. Linda Hinnov
6. M. Woodburne

Citations in the corpus

• La2010: a new orbital solution for the long-term motion of the Earth (2011, background): “This range is particularly critical, as it corresponds to the location of both the PETM (at about−55 Myr) and the K/P boundary (at about −66 Myr) (Lourens et al. 2005; Westerhold et al. 2007, 2008).”
• BIOCHRONOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE EARLIEST SOUTH AMERICAN PALEOGENE MAMMALIAN FAUNAS (2009, background): “According to the age of this zone the Tiupampa fauna could be as old as 64– 64.5 Ma (Woodburne 2006; Westerhold et al. 2008).”
• Time scale controversy: Accurate orbital calibration of the early Paleogene (2012, methodology): “The basic age model for this comparison is the consistent recognition of the number of stable 405-kyr cycles in the geological data [Lourens et al., 2005; Westerhold and Röhl, 2006; Westerhold et al., 2007, 2008; Hilgen et al., 2010] from 47 to 60 Ma.”
• Astronomical calibration of the Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) (2011, methodology): “(2008), the absolute age for the PETM is in accordance with the option 3 of the astronomically calibrated Paleocene timescale (Westerhold et al., 2008).”