Middle Miocene oxygen minimum zone expansion offshore west Africa : evidence for global cooling precursor events

Kender, Sev; Peck, Victoria; Jones, R.W.; Kaminski, M.A.. 2009 Middle Miocene oxygen minimum zone expansion offshore west Africa : evidence for global cooling precursor events. Geology, 37 (8). 699-702. 10.1130/G30070A.1

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Text Kender 2009 Middle Miocene paper[1].pdf Restricted to NERC registered users only Download (620Kb) | Request a copy

Abstract/Summary

Three dissolution events ca. 16 Ma, 15.5 Ma, and 14.3 Ma ago have been identified in sediments from the Congo Fan. Multiproxy benthic foraminiferal and sedimentary records suggest an expanded oxygen minimum zone consistent with enhanced upwelling at these times. Marine carbonate records from adjacent North Africa indicate coincident episodes of increased continental weathering, suggesting that an intermittently stronger polar front strengthened west African offshore winds, increasing surface water productivity, and enhanced North African weathering during these events. We propose that Columbia River Flood Basalt volcanism, estimated to have released 106 Tg CO2 and 106 Tg SO2 between 16 and 15.6 Ma ago, may have influenced these climatic changes.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number/DOI:	10.1130/G30070A.1
Programmes:	BGS Programmes 2009 > Climate change
ISSN:	0091-7613
Additional Information:	Geological Society of America, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301-9140 USA (http://www.geosociety.org)
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	28 Aug 2009 12:09
URI:	http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/7989

Actions (login required)

View Item