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 |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 463-466 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Geology |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - May 1 2003 |
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Keywords
- Arctic
- Cellulose
- Eocene
- Humidity
- Metasequoia
- Stable isotope
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geology
Cite this
Humidity estimate for the middle Eocene Arctic rain forest. / Jahren, A. Hope; Sternberg, Leonel.
In: Geology, Vol. 31, No. 5, 01.05.2003, p. 463-466.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Humidity estimate for the middle Eocene Arctic rain forest
AU - Jahren, A. Hope
AU - Sternberg, Leonel
PY - 2003/5/1
Y1 - 2003/5/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Arctic
KW - Cellulose
KW - Eocene
KW - Humidity
KW - Metasequoia
KW - Stable isotope
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037983717&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037983717&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0463:HEFTME>2.0.CO;2
DO - 10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0463:HEFTME>2.0.CO;2
M3 - Article
VL - 31
SP - 463
EP - 466
JO - Geology
JF - Geology
SN - 0091-7613
IS - 5
ER -