Model-data comparisons for reconstructing ancient climates: two case studies from the early Cenozoic

Montag 04.11.2024, 11:00 → 12:00 Europe/Berlin

5-1.214 - Linke Seite – Großer, unterteilbarer Konferenzraum (GEOMAR - Standort Ostufer / GEOMAR - East Shore)

Speaker: Dr. Flavia Boscolo-Galazzo, MARUM, Germany 

Hybrid  - Zoom: https://geomar-de.zoom.us/j/84289388604?pwd=dGlpeTBUd1Nxem5Ec3dRYXh4NFpOUT09

Abstract            
The reconstruction of ancient climates is done through the use of proxies, model simulations or a combination of the two. Model-data comparisons provide the opportunity to explore causal relationships between climate variables but are often complicated by large discrepancies between the results obtained from models and proxies. Here, I present two case-studies based on my latest research, whereby data derived from benthic foraminiferal geochemistry (Δ47) and planktonic foraminiferal assemblage composition (species counts) perfectly match model simulations for the Oligocene Antarctic ice-sheet and the early Eocene latitudinal temperature gradient, respectively. These results provide new insights on early Cenozoic climate and call for a reassessment of the deep-time application of some of the most common climate proxies.