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) |
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Pages (from-to) | 463-466 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Geology |
Volume | 31 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2003 |
Keywords
- Arctic
- Cellulose
- Eocene
- Humidity
- Metasequoia
- Stable isotope
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geology