Paleogene Antarctic ocean circulation from isotopes – #365papers – 2017 – 66

#365papers for March 7, 2017

Kennett and Stott, 1990 Proteus and Proto-Oceanus: ancestral paleogene oceans as revealed from Antarctic stable isotopic results; ODP Leg 113: Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Programs, Scientific Results, v. 113, p. 865-880.

What’s it about?

These are the published results of an ocean drilling cruise that took place in Antarctica in the late 1980’s. A core from the ocean floor was drilled and various parts of it were studied. This paper discusses geochemical results from the skeletons (tests) of single-celled organisms called foraminifera (forams) found throughout the core. From these results, the authors discuss deep ocean currents from millions of years ago.

Why does it matter?

Ocean drilling projects like this one provide windows back in time. This particular one tells us about the Antarctic. Global changes are also recorded in these rocks, including the Paleocene-Eocene boundary and the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO).

Why did I read this?

I am searching for ocean core data that covers the MECO. This core does preserve such data.