Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Estimate of the Early Tertiary Paleoclimate of the Southern Arctic

  • Conference paper
Cenozoic Plants and Climates of the Arctic

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASII,volume 27))

Abstract

The early Tertiary southern Arctic was an important biogeographic exchange route between the Old and New Worlds. A variant of the nearest living relative method of paleoclimatic estimation suggests that the mean temperature of the coldest month of the Eocene southern Arctic was about 10 °C, with the possibility of limited frost. The mean annual range of temperature was probably low, and moisture availability may have been limited in the cool season.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Axelrod D.I. (1984) An interpretation of Cretaceous and Tertiary biota in polar regions. Palaeogeog. Palaeoclim. Palaeoecol. 45: 105–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey I.W. and Sinnott E.W. (1916) The climatic distribution of certain types of angiosperm leaves. Amer. J. Botany 3: 24–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barron E.J. (1987) Eocene equator-to-pole surface ocean temperatures: A significant climate problem? Paleoceanogr. 2: 729–739.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Basinger J.F., Mclver E.E. and LePage B.A. (1988) The fossil forests of Axel Heiberg Island. The Musk Ox 36: 50–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyd A. (1990) The Thyra O flora: Toward an understanding of the climate and vegetation during the early Tertiary in the high Arctic. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol 62: 189–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burckhalter R.E. (1992) The genus Nyssa in North America: a revision. Sida 15: 323–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandler M.E.J. (1961) The Lower Tertiary Floras of Southern England, Volume I. Palaeocene Floras. London Clay Flora (Supplement). British Museum (Natural History) London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandler M.E.J. (1962) The Lower Tertiary Floras of Southern England, Volume II. Flora of the Pipe-Clay Series of Dorset (Lower Bagshot). British Museum (Natural History) London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chandler M.E.J. (1964) The Lower Tertiary Floras of Southern England, Volume IV. A summary and survey of findings in the light of recent botanical observations. British Museum (Natural History) London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corner E.J.H. (1966) The Natural History of Palms. University of California Press, Berkeley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dolph G.E. (1979) Variation in leaf margin with respect to climate in Costa Rica. Bull. TorreyBot. Club 106: 104–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dolph G.E. and Dilcher D.L. (1979) Foliar physiognomy as an aid in determining paleoclimate. Palaeontographica, Abt. B., Paleophytologie 170: 151–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donn W.M. (1982) The enigma of high-latitude paleoclimate. Palaeogeog. Palaeoclim. Palaeoecol. 40: 199–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elias T.S. (1980) The Complete Trees of North America, Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Estes R. and Hutchison J.H. (1980) Eocene lower vertebrates from Ellesmere Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Palaeogeog. Palaeoclim. Palaeoecol. 30: 325–347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eyde R.H. (1963) Morphological and paleobotanical studies of the Nyssaceae, I. A survey of the modern species and their fruits. J. Arnold Arb. 44: 1–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eyde R.H., Bartlett A. and Barghoorn E.S. (1969) The fossil record of Alangium. Bull. TorreyBot. Club 96: 288–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forman L.L. (1986) Menispermaceae. Flora Malesiana Series I 2: 157–253.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forman L.L. (1988) A synopsis of Thai Menispermaceae. Kew Bull. 43: 369–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frakes L.A. (1986) Mesozoic-Cenozoic climatic history and causes of the glaciation. Amer. Geophys. Union, Geodynamics Series 15: 33–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geissert F., Gregor H.-J. and Mai D.H. (1990) Die cSaugbaggerflora’, eine Frucht- und Samenflora aus dem Grenzbereich Miozen-Pliozen von Sessenheim im Elsass (Frankenreich). Documenta Naturae 57: 1–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greenwood D.R. (1992) Taphonomic constraints on foliar physiognomic interpretations of Late Cretaceous and Tertiary paleoclimates. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 71: 149–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hammel B.E. and Zamora N.A. (1990) Nyssa talamancana (Cornaceae), an addition to the remnant Laurasian Tertiary flora of southern Central America. Brittonia 42: 165–170.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hickey L.J. (1977) Stratigraphy and paleobotany of the Golden Valley Formation (Early Tertiary) of western North Dakota. Geol. Soc. Amer. Mem. 150: 1–181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hills L.V., Klovan J.E. and Sweet A.R. (1974) Jttglans eocinerea n. sp., Beaufort Formation (Tertiary), southwestern Banks Island, Arctic Canada. Canadian J. Bot. 52: 65–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knobloch E. and Mai D.-H. (1986) Monographie der Früchte und Samen in der Kreide von Mitteleuropa. Rozpravy Ustredniho üstavu geologickeho 47: 1–219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knobloch E., KvaSek Z., Buzek C., Mai D.H. and Batten D.J. (1993) Evolutionary significance of floristic changes in the Northern Hemisphere during the Late Cretaceous and Palaeogene, with particular reference to Central Europe. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol. 78: 41–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koch B.E. (1972) Coryphoid palm fruits and seeds from the Danian of Nügssuaq, West Greenland. Meddelelser om Gronland 193: 1–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kral R. (1960) A revision of Asimina and Deeringothamnus (Annonaceae). Brittonia 12: 233–278.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little E. L. Jr. (1977) Atlas of United States Trees. Vol. 4. Minor Eastern Hardwoods. In: United States Department of Agriculture, Forestry Service, Misc. Pub I. 1342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little E.L.Jr. (1976) Atlas of United States Trees. Vol. 3. Minor Western Hardwoods. United States Department of Agriculture, Forestry Service, Misc. Pub I. 1314.

    Google Scholar 

  • Little E. L. Jr. (1977) Atlas of United States Trees. Vol. 4. Minor Eastern Hardwoods. In: United States Department of Agriculture, Forestry Service, Misc. Pub I. 1342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mabberley D.J. (1987) The Plant-Book. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. (1970a) Subtropische elemente im europäischen Tertiär I. Paleontologische Abhand. 3: 441–503.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. (1970b) Fund von saurauia Willd. im europäischen Alttertier. Wissenschaftliche Zeitschrift der Friedrich-Schiller-Universitet Jena, Mathematisch-naturwissenschaftliche Reihe 19: 385–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. (1976) Eozäne Floren des Geiseltales. Abhand. des Geologischen Instituts, Paläontologische Abhandlungen 26: 93–149.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. (1980) Zur Bedeutung von relikten in der Florengeschichte. 100 Jahre Arboretum (1879–1979), Berlin: 281–307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. (1981) Entwicklung und klimatische Differenzierung der Laubwaldflora Mitteleuropas im Tertiär. Flora 171: 525–582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. (1987) Neue Früchte und Samen aus paläozänen Ablagerungen Mitteleuropas. Feddes Repertorium 98: 197–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. and Walther H. (1978) Die Floren der Haselbacher Serie im Weisselster-Becken (Bezirk Leipzig, DDR). Abhand. des Staatlichen Museums für Mineralogie und Geologie zu Dresden 28: 1–200 + 101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mai D.H. and Walther H. (1985) Die obereozänen Floren des Weisselster-Beckens und seiner Randgebeite. Abhand. des Staatlichen Museums für Mineralogie und Geologie zu Dresden 33: 1–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manchester S.R. (1987) The fossil history of the Juglandaceae. Missouri Bot. Garden Monogr. System. Bot. 21: 1–137.

    Google Scholar 

  • Manchester S.R. (in press) Fruits and seeds of the Middle Eocene Nut Beds flora, Clarao Formation, north-central Oregon. Palaeontographica Americana. Matthew K.M. (1977) Cornaceae. Flora Malesiana Series I 8: 85–97.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews J.V.Jr. and Ovenden L.E. (1990) Late Tertiary plant macrofossils from localities in Arctic/Subarctic North America - A review of the data. Arctic 43: 364–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mclver E.E. and Basinger J.F. (1989) The morphology and relationships of Thuja polaris sp. nov. (Cupressaceae) from the early Tertiary, Ellesmere Island, Arctic Canada. Canadian J. Bot. 67: 1903–1915.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenna M.C. (1975) Fossil mammals and Early Eocene North Atlantic land continuity. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 62: 335–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenna M.C. (1980) Eocene paleolatitude, climate, and mammals of Ellesmere Island. Palaeogeog. Palaeoclim. Palaeoecol. 30: 349–362.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenna M.C. (1983a) Holocene land mass rearrangement, cosmic events, and Cenozoic terrestrial organisms. Ann. Missouri Bot. Garden 70: 459–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenna M.C. (1983b) Cenozoic paleogeography of North Atlantic land bridges. In: M.H. P. Bott, S. Saxov, M. Talwani and J. Thiede (eds.) Structure and Development of the Greenland-Scotland Ridge: 3 51–399. Plenum Press, N. Y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller K.G., Fairbanks R.G. and Mountain G.S. (1987) Tertiary Oxygen isotope synthesis, sea level history, and continental margin erosion. Paleoceanogr. 2: 1–19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nooteboom H.P. (1975) Revision of the Symplocaceae of the Old World, New Caledonia excepted. Leiden Bot. Ser. 1. University Press, Leiden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Palamarev E.H. (1988) Schefflera chandlerae sp. nov., a new subtropical element in the Bulgarian Neogene flora. Tert. Res. 9: 97–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reid E.M. and Chandler M.E.J. (1933) The London Clay Flora. British Museum (Natural Histoiy), London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shelford V.E. (1913) Animal Communities in Temperate America. University of Chicago Press, Chicago.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sleumer H. (1960) Icacinaceae. In: J. Mattfeld (ed.) Die Natjrlichen flanzenfamlien. Band 20b: 322–396.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sleumer H. (1971) Icacinaceae. Flora Malesiana Series 1, vol 1: 1–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sloan L.C. and Barron E.J. (1992) A comparison of Eocene climate model results to quantified paleoclimatic interpretations. Palaeogeog. Palaeoclim. Palaeoecol. 93: 183–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith A.C. (1947) The families Illiciaceae and Schisandraeeae. Sargentia 1: 1–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith A.G., Hurley A.M. and Briden J.C. (1981) Phanerozoic paleocontinental world maps. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soepadmo E. (1977) Ulmaceae. Flora Malesiana Series I, vol. 8: 31–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spicer R.A. and Chapman J.L. (1990) Climate change and the evolution of high-latitude terrestrial vegetation and floras. Trends in Ecol. and Evol. 5: 279–284.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Standley P.C. (1920) Trees and Shrubs of Mexico (Fagaceae-Fabaceae). Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 23: 169 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Standley P.C. (1922) Trees and Shrubs of Mexico (Fagaceae-Fabaceae). Contributions from the U.S. National Herbarium 23: 171–515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Standley P.C. (1923) Trees and Shrubs of Mexico (Oxalidaceae-Turneraceae). Contributions from the US. National Herbarium 23: 517–848.

    Google Scholar 

  • Standley P.C. (1924) Trees and Shrubs of Mexico (Passifloraceae-Scrophulariaceae). Contributions from the US. National Herbarium 23: 849–1312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Standley P.C. and Steyermark J. A. (1946) Flora of Guatemala, Part IV. Fieldiana: Botany 24: 1–493.

    Google Scholar 

  • Standley PC. and Williams L.O. (1966) Flora of Guatemala, Part VIII. Fieldiana: Botany 24: 1–210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steyermark J.A. and Huber O. (1978) Flora del Avila. Publicaeiun Especial de la Sociedad Venezolana de Ciencias Naturales. Caracas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor D.W. (1990) Paleobiogeographic relationships of angiosperms from the Cretaceous and Early Tertiary of the North American area. Bot. Rev. (Lancaster) 56: 279–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiffney B.H. (1977) Contributions to a monograph of the fruit and seedflora of the Brandon Lignite. Ph.D. Dissertation, Harvard University, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiffney B.H. (1979) The fruits and seeds of the Brandon Lignite III. Turpinia (Staphyleaceae). Brittonia 31: 39–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiffney B.H. (1980) The fruits and seeds of the Brandon Lignite V. Rutaceae. J. Arnold Arb. 61: 1–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiffney B.H. (1981) Euodia coslata (Chandler) Tiffney, (Rutaceae) from the Eocene of southern England. Paleontologisches Zeitschrift 55: 185–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiffney B.H. (1985a) Perspectives on the origin of the floristic similarity between eastern Asia and eastern North America. J. Arnold Arb. 66: 73–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiffney B.H. (1985b) The Eocene North Atlantic land bridge: Its importance in Tertiary and modern phytogeography of the Northern Hemisphere. J. Arnold Arb. 66: 243–273.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiffney B.H. (submitted) The age of the Brandon Lignite (Vermont) based on megafossils. Rev. Palaeobot. Palynol.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiffney B.H. and Barghoorn E.S. (1979) The flora of the Brandon Lignite. IV. Illiciaceae. Amer. J. Bot. 66: 321–329.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tralau H. (1963) Asiatic dicotyledonous affinities in the Cainozoic flora of Europe. Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar, Fjerde serien 9: 1–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tralau H. (1964) The genus Nypa van Wurmb. Kungl. Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar, Fjerde serien 10: 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uhl N.W. and Dransfield J. (1987) Genera Palmarum. A classification of palms based on the work of H. E. Moore, Jr. Allen Press, Lawrence, Kansas.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Beusekom C.F. (1971) Revision of Meliosma (Sabiaceae), section Lorenzanea excepted, living and fossil, geography and phylogeny. Blumea 19: 355–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Beusekom C.F and van de Water T.P.M. (1989) Sabiaceae. Flora Malesiana Series I, vol. 10: 679–715.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Water T.P.M. (1980) A taxonomic revision of the genus Sabia (Sabiaceae). Blumea 26: 1–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Steenis C.G.G.J. (1954) Actinidiaceae. Flora Malesiana Series I, 4: 33–39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walter H. and Lieth, H. (1960–1967) Klimadiagramm-Weltatlas. VEB Gustav-Fischer-Verlag, Jena.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wheeler E.A. and Baas P. (1993) The potentials and limitations of dicotyledonous wood anatomy for climatic reconstructions. Paleobiol. 19: 487–498.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitlock C. and Dawson M.R. (1990) Pollen and vertebrates of the early Neogene Haughton Formation, Devon Island, Arctic Canada. Arctic 43: 324–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis J.C. (1973) A Dictionary of the Flowering Plants and Ferns, 8th ed. In: H.K. Airy Shaw (ed.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing S.L. and Greenwood D.R. (1993) Fossils and fossil climate: The case for equable continental interiors in the Eocene. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. of London, Ser. B - Biol. Sci. 341: 243–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J.A. (1969) Neogene floristic and vegetational history of the Pacific Northwest. Madrono 20: 83–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J. A. (1971) Tertiary climatic fluctuations and methods of analysis of Tertiary floras. Paleogeogr. Palaeoclimatol. Palaeoecol 9: 27–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J. A. (1977) Paleogene floras from the Gulf of Alaska region. U.S. GeoL Surv. Prof. Pap. 997: 1–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J. A. (1978) A paleobotanical interpretation of Tertiary climates in the Northern Hemisphere. Amer. Sci. 66: 694–703.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J. A. (1979) Temperature parameters of humid to mesic forests of eastern Asia and relation to forests of other regions of the Northern Hemisphere and Australasia. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof Pap. 1106: 1–37.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J. A. (1980) Tertiary climates and floristic relationships at high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere. Palaeogeog. Palaeoclim. Palaeoecol. 30: 313–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J.A. (1985) Distribution of major vegetational types during the Tertiary. Amer. Geophy. Union, Geophy. Monogr. 32: 357–375.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe J. A. (1993) A method of obtaining climatic parameters from leaf assemblages. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull. 2040: 1–71.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA

    B. H. Tiffney

Authors
  1. B. H. Tiffney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Palaeobiology Research Unit, University of East London, Romford Road, London, E15 4LZ, UK

    Michael C. Boulter  & Helen C. Fisher  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Tiffney, B.H. (1994). An Estimate of the Early Tertiary Paleoclimate of the Southern Arctic. In: Boulter, M.C., Fisher, H.C. (eds) Cenozoic Plants and Climates of the Arctic. NATO ASI Series, vol 27. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79378-3_19

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-79378-3_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-79380-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-79378-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation