Download or read book Extreme Past Climate Phytoplankton Response to Early Aptian and Paleocene eocene Boundary Greenhouse Conditions written by Fabrizio Tremolada and published by . This book was released on 2003 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Fluvial Response to the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum in Western North America written by Brady Z. Foreman and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 506 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Paleocene-Eocene boundary ca. 56 million years ago is characterized by an extreme global warming event, known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). The event is linked to the massive exogenic release of isotopically-light carbon into Earth's oceans and atmosphere, and is recognizable in the geologic record by an abrupt negative carbon isotope excursion in both organic and inorganic proxy records for duration of approximately 200,000 years. Previous studies indicate the PETM instigated massive changes in ocean and atmospheric circulation, which perturbed both terrestrial and marine environmental conditions and biotic systems. This study exploits the PETM to examine the effects of abrupt climate change on fluvial stratigraphy. The negative carbon isotope excursion associated with the PETM allows the timing and duration of the climate change to be identified independent of lithostratigraphic markers. Local climate shifts are constrained using circulation models, soil geochemistry, and paleobotanical records. Two areas are studied in detail, the Piceance Creek Basin of Colorado and the northern Bighorn Basin of Wyoming. In both areas anomalously thick and laterally persistent fluvial sand-bodies correlate with the PETM interval. In the Piceance Creek Basin the shift in fluvial deposition directly correlates with the onset of the PETM and persists beyond the carbon isotope excursion, whereas in the northern Bighorn Basin the shift appears to lag the isotope excursion by 10-20 thousand years and ends prior to the return to background climatic conditions. In the Piceance Creek Basin the change in sand-body geometry is associated with a shift to deeper paleoflow depths, wider channels, greater preservation of upper flow regime structures, prevalent crevasse splay deposits, and poorer drained floodplain soils. In contrast, within the Bighorn Basin there are no such changes and, apart from greater amalgamation, fluvial deposition appears to be largely unaffected by the PETM. When combined with other PETM terrestrial localities, the records demonstrate the PETM had substantial, but spatially diverse effects on basin-scale grain-size partitioning, discharge regimes, and river-floodplain dynamics. Aspects of the responses in the various basins are reminiscent of those predicted by two-dimensional basin-fill models, however, key differences highlight the role non-linearities, feedback loops, relaxation times, basin geometry, seasonality of precipitation, and vegetation factors play in determining large-scale depositional patterns. Consequently, it is concluded that short-term climatic events such as the PETM hold the potential to strongly alter basin sedimentation patterns, but that the sedimentologic-recorded climatic signal cannot be used to directly reconstruct paleoclimatic conditions. Instead a more appropriate approach is advocated that uses fluvial stratigraphy in concert with geochemical and other proxies to iteratively produce a more robust image of paleolandscape dynamics.
Download or read book The Vegetation of Antarctica through Geological Time written by David J. Cantrill and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2012-11-22 with total page 489 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The fossil history of plant life in Antarctica is central to our understanding of the evolution of vegetation through geological time and also plays a key role in reconstructing past configurations of the continents and associated climatic conditions. This book provides the only detailed overview of the development of Antarctic vegetation from the Devonian period to the present day, presenting Earth scientists with valuable insights into the break up of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. Details of specific floras and ecosystems are provided within the context of changing geological, geographical and environmental conditions, alongside comparisons with contemporaneous and modern ecosystems. The authors demonstrate how palaeobotany contributes to our understanding of the paleoenvironmental changes in the southern hemisphere during this period of Earth history. The book is a complete and up-to-date reference for researchers and students in Antarctic paleobotany and terrestrial paleoecology.
Download or read book Nitrogen in the Marine Environment written by Edward J. Carpenter and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2013-10-22 with total page 919 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nitrogen in the Marine Environment provides information pertinent to the many aspects of the nitrogen cycle. This book presents the advances in ocean productivity research, with emphasis on the role of microbes in nitrogen transformations with excursions to higher trophic levels. Organized into 24 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the abundance and distribution of the various forms of nitrogen in a number of estuaries. This text then provides a comparison of the nitrogen cycling of various ecosystems within the marine environment. Other chapters consider chemical distributions and methodology as an aid to those entering the field. This book discusses as well the enzymology of the initial steps of inorganic nitrogen assimilation. The final chapter deals with the philosophy and application of modeling as an investigative method in basic research on nitrogen dynamics in coastal and open-ocean marine environments. This book is a valuable resource for plant biochemists, microbiologists, aquatic ecologists, and bacteriologists.
Download or read book Understanding Earth s Deep Past written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2011-08-02 with total page 153 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: There is little dispute within the scientific community that humans are changing Earth's climate on a decadal to century time-scale. By the end of this century, without a reduction in emissions, atmospheric CO2 is projected to increase to levels that Earth has not experienced for more than 30 million years. As greenhouse gas emissions propel Earth toward a warmer climate state, an improved understanding of climate dynamics in warm environments is needed to inform public policy decisions. In Understanding Earth's Deep Past, the National Research Council reports that rocks and sediments that are millions of years old hold clues to how the Earth's future climate would respond in an environment with high levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases. Understanding Earth's Deep Past provides an assessment of both the demonstrated and underdeveloped potential of the deep-time geologic record to inform us about the dynamics of the global climate system. The report describes past climate changes, and discusses potential impacts of high levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases on regional climates, water resources, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and the cycling of life-sustaining elements. While revealing gaps in scientific knowledge of past climate states, the report highlights a range of high priority research issues with potential for major advances in the scientific understanding of climate processes. This proposed integrated, deep-time climate research program would study how climate responded over Earth's different climate states, examine how climate responds to increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and clarify the processes that lead to anomalously warm polar and tropical regions and the impact on marine and terrestrial life. In addition to outlining a research agenda, Understanding Earth's Deep Past proposes an implementation strategy that will be an invaluable resource to decision-makers in the field, as well as the research community, advocacy organizations, government agencies, and college professors and students.
Download or read book Coccolithophores written by Hans R. Thierstein and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 567 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This introduction to one of the most common phytoplankton types provides broad coverage from molecular and cellular biology all the way to its impact on the global carbon cycle and climate. Individual chapters focus on coccolithophore biology, ecology, evolutionary phylogeny and impact on current and past global changes. The book addresses fundamental questions about the interaction between the biota and the environment at various temporal and spatial scales.
Download or read book The Evolution of the Biosphere written by M.I. Budyko and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 608 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE STUDY OF THE BIOSPHERE The term 'biosphere' first appeared in the works of the French biologist 1.-B. Lamarck and the Austrian geologist E. Suess in the 19th century. In the 20th century, the study of the biosphere attracted considerable attention, largely due to the research of V. I. Vernadsky (1863- 1945). The results Qf Vernadsky's investigations have appeared in a number of publications, including the monograph The Biosphere published in 1926. This work consists of two parts, The Biosphere in Cosmos' and The Zone of Life', written in a form of speculation and reflection that is rarely used in modern studies. This work concerns the distinguishing properties of the space occupied by organisms and the exceptional importance of the activities of these organisms in the formation of their environment. In this and subsequent studies, Vernadsky has laid the foundations of the science of the biosphere, which today plays an important role in th.c many branches of science concerned with the Earth. Several terms have been suggested for the science of the biosphere, including global ecology (a discipline studying the global ecological system, whose meaning is close to that of the biosphere). One of the most prominent predecessors of Vernadsky was his teacher V.
Download or read book Carbon Isotope Stratigraphy written by Michael Montenari and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2020-10-30 with total page 782 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Carbon Isotope Stratigraphy, Volume Five in the Advances in Sequence Stratigraphy series, covers research in stratigraphic disciplines, including the most recent developments in the geosciences. This fully commissioned review publication aims to foster and convey progress in stratigraphy with its inclusion of a variety of topics, including Carbon isotope stratigraphy - principles and applications, Interpreting Phanerozoic d13C patterns as periodic glacio-eustatic sequences, Stable carbon isotopes in archaeological plant remains, Review of the Upper Ediacaran-Lower Cambrian Detrital Series in Central and North Iberia: NE Africa as possible Source Area, Calibrating d13C and d18O chemostratigraphic correlations across Cambrian strata of SW, and much more. - Contains contributions from leading authorities in the field - Informs and updates on all the latest developments in the field - Aims to foster and convey progress in stratigraphy, including geochronology, magnetostratigraphy, lithostratigraphy, event-stratigraphy, and more
Download or read book Biostratigraphic and Geological Significance of Planktonic Foraminifera written by Marcelle K. BouDagher-Fadel and published by UCL Press. This book was released on 2015-10-02 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The role of fossil planktonic foraminifera as markers for biostratigraphical zonation and correlation underpins most drilling of marine sedimentary sequences and is key to hydrocarbon exploration. The first - and only - book to synthesise the whole biostratigraphic and geological usefulness of planktonic foraminifera, Biostratigraphic and Geological Significance of Planktonic Foraminifera unifies existing biostratigraphic schemes and provides an improved correlation reflecting regional biogeographies.Renowned micropaleontologist Marcelle K. Boudagher-Fadel presents a comprehensive analysis of existing data on fossil planktonic foraminifera genera and their phylogenetic evolution in time and space. This important text, now in its Second Edition, is in considerable demand and is now being republished by UCL Press.
Download or read book Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy written by Paul R. Bown and published by Springer. This book was released on 2012-12-16 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Calcareous nannofossils are an exceptionally important microfossil group, with their living counterparts, coccolithopores, representing one of the major components of phytoplankton in present day oceans. Their abundant fossil record and world-wide distribution has led to their rapid acceptance as one of the most important index-fossil groups in stratigraphical research. The first two chapters of this book provide general information concerning calcareous nannofossils, including reviews of their biology and palaeobiology, and preparation and observation techniques. Chapters 3-9 are ordered stratigraphically, and present state-of-the-art summaries of calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy for each time period, with comprehensive illustrations of all taxa within a standardised classification based on the latest research into structure and biomineralization. The practical application of these biostratigraphic schemes is discussed, including comments on zones biogeography, taxonomy and evolution. This information is internationally relevant, and global correlation is discussed. Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy is the most comprehensive atlas of this fossil group ever produced, containing 65 full page plates with over 2,000 individual photographs, together with comments concerning stratigraphic distribution and identification. Chapters on the Mesozoic contain electron microscope illustrations as well as light micrographs. The inclusion of much recent, previously unpublished, research provides a new level of biostratigraphic resolution for a number of time periods, making the book both a valuable synthesis and a significant step forward in biogeographical research. Calcareous Nannofossil Biostratigraphy is a comprehensive practical handbook for palaeontologists and organizations who use calcareous nannofossils in biostratigraphy, and provides a valuable practical reference work for earth scientists engaged in stratigraphic research, and those interested in palaeontology, palaeoceanography, stratigraphy and geochronology.
Download or read book The Phanerozoic Carbon Cycle written by Robert A. Berner and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2004-08-19 with total page 159 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The term "carbon cycle" is normally thought to mean those processes that govern the present-day transfer of carbon between life, the atmosphere, and the oceans. This book describes another carbon cycle, one which operates over millions of years and involves the transfer of carbon between rocks and the combination of life, the atmosphere, and the oceans. The weathering of silicate and carbonate rocks and ancient sedimentary organic matter (including recent, large-scale human-induced burning of fossil fuels), the burial of organic matter and carbonate minerals in sediments, and volcanic degassing of carbon dioxide contribute to this cycle. In The Phanerozoic Carbon Cycle, Robert Berner shows how carbon cycle models can be used to calculate levels of atmospheric CO[2 and O[2 over Phanerozoic time, the past 550 million years, and how results compare with independent methods. His analysis has implications for such disparate subjects as the evolution of land plants, the presence of giant ancient insects, the role of tectonics in paleoclimate, and the current debate over global warming and greenhouse gases
Download or read book Iron Geochemistry An Isotopic Perspective written by Clark Johnson and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2020-01-09 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book provides a comprehensive summary of research to date in the field of stable iron isotope geochemistry. Since research began in this field 20 years ago, the field has grown to become one of the major research fields in "non-traditional" stable isotope geochemistry. This book reviews all aspects of the field, from low-temperature to high-temperature processes, biological processes, and cosmochemical processes. It provides a detailed history and state-of-the art summary about analytical methods to determine Fe-isotope ratios and discusses analytical and sample prospects.
Download or read book Ecology and Palaeoecology of Benthic Foraminifera written by John W. Murray and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2014-10-13 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is an important and authoritative review of foraminiferal ecology, the first for over a decade. Professor Murray relates ecological data on living forms of foraminifera to the palaeoecology of fossil species, and defines in detail areas of global distribution.
Download or read book Deep time Perspectives on Climate Change written by Mark Williams and published by Geological Society of London. This book was released on 2007 with total page 604 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Soils of the Past written by Gregory J. Retallack and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 451 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Landscapes viewed from afar have a timeless quality that is soothing to the human spirit. Yet a tranquil wilderness scene is but a snapshot in the steady stream of surficial change. Wind, water and human activities reshape the landscape by means of gradual to catastrophic and usually irreversible events. Much of this change destroys past landscapes, but at some times and places, landscapes are buried in the rock record. This work is dedicated to the discovery of past landscapes and their life through the fossil record of soils. A long history of surficial changes extending back almost to the origin of our planet can be deciphered from the study of these buried soils, or paleosols. Some rudiments of this history, and our place in it, are outlined in a final section of this book. But first it is necessary to learn something of the language of soils, of what happens to them when buried in the rock record and which of the forces of nature can be confidently reconstructed from their remains. Much of this preliminary material is borrowed from soil science, but throughout emphasis is laid on features that provide most reliable evidence of landscapes during the distant geological past. This book has evolved primarily as a text for senior level university courses in paleopedology: the study of fossil soils.
Download or read book Encyclopedia of Geochemistry written by William M. White and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-07-24 with total page 1680 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Encyclopedia is a complete and authoritative reference work for this rapidly evolving field. Over 200 international scientists, each experts in their specialties, have written over 330 separate topics on different aspects of geochemistry including geochemical thermodynamics and kinetics, isotope and organic geochemistry, meteorites and cosmochemistry, the carbon cycle and climate, trace elements, geochemistry of high and low temperature processes, and ore deposition, to name just a few. The geochemical behavior of the elements is described as is the state of the art in analytical geochemistry. Each topic incorporates cross-referencing to related articles, and also has its own reference list to lead the reader to the essential articles within the published literature. The entries are arranged alphabetically, for easy access, and the subject and citation indices are comprehensive and extensive. Geochemistry applies chemical techniques and approaches to understanding the Earth and how it works. It touches upon almost every aspect of earth science, ranging from applied topics such as the search for energy and mineral resources, environmental pollution, and climate change to more basic questions such as the Earth’s origin and composition, the origin and evolution of life, rock weathering and metamorphism, and the pattern of ocean and mantle circulation. Geochemistry allows us to assign absolute ages to events in Earth’s history, to trace the flow of ocean water both now and in the past, trace sediments into subduction zones and arc volcanoes, and trace petroleum to its source rock and ultimately the environment in which it formed. The earliest of evidence of life is chemical and isotopic traces, not fossils, preserved in rocks. Geochemistry has allowed us to unravel the history of the ice ages and thereby deduce their cause. Geochemistry allows us to determine the swings in Earth’s surface temperatures during the ice ages, determine the temperatures and pressures at which rocks have been metamorphosed, and the rates at which ancient magma chambers cooled and crystallized. The field has grown rapidly more sophisticated, in both analytical techniques that can determine elemental concentrations or isotope ratios with exquisite precision and in computational modeling on scales ranging from atomic to planetary.
Download or read book The Gulf of Mexico Sedimentary Basin written by John W. Snedden and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2019-11-21 with total page 343 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive and richly illustrated overview of the Gulf of Mexico Basin, including its reservoirs, source rocks, tectonics and evolution.
