Humidity estimate for the middle Eocene Arctic rain forest

A. Hope Jahren; Leonel Silveira Lobo Sternberg

doi:10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0463:HEFTME>2.0.CO;2

Humidity estimate for the middle Eocene Arctic rain forest

A. Hope Jahren, Leonel Silveira Lobo Sternberg

Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

86 Scopus citations

Abstract

The exquisite preservation of fossilized Metasequoia trees that grew near 80°N latitude during the middle Eocene (ca. 45 Ma) in Nunavut, Canada, allowed for δD and δ¹⁸O analyses of cellulose, techniques previously restricted to wood <30,000 yr old. From the isotopic results, we determined that the middle Eocene Arctic atmosphere contained ∼2x the water found in the region's atmosphere today. This water vapor contributed to a middle Eocene greenhouse effect that insulated the polar region during dark polar winters.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	463-466
Number of pages	4
Journal	Geology
Volume	31
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0463:HEFTME>2.0.CO;2
State	Published - May 1 2003

Keywords

Arctic
Cellulose
Eocene
Humidity
Metasequoia
Stable isotope

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geology

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abstract = "The exquisite preservation of fossilized Metasequoia trees that grew near 80°N latitude during the middle Eocene (ca. 45 Ma) in Nunavut, Canada, allowed for δD and δ18O analyses of cellulose, techniques previously restricted to wood <30,000 yr old. From the isotopic results, we determined that the middle Eocene Arctic atmosphere contained ∼2x the water found in the region's atmosphere today. This water vapor contributed to a middle Eocene greenhouse effect that insulated the polar region during dark polar winters.",

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KW - Stable isotope

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