Assessing paleotemperature and seasonality during the Early Eocene climatic optimum (EECO) in the Belgian basin by means of fish otolith stable O and C isotopes

Vanhove, D.; Stassen, P.; Speijer, R.P.; Steurbaut, E.

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Assessing paleotemperature and seasonality during the Early Eocene climatic optimum (EECO) in the Belgian basin by means of fish otolith stable O and C isotopes

Vanhove, D.; Stassen, P.; Speijer, R.P.; Steurbaut, E. (2011). Assessing paleotemperature and seasonality during the Early Eocene climatic optimum (EECO) in the Belgian basin by means of fish otolith stable O and C isotopes. Geol. Belg. 14(3-4): 143-158

In: Geologica Belgica. Geologica Belgica: Brussels . ISSN 1374-8505; e-ISSN 2034-1954, more

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VLIZ: Open access 240312 [ download pdf ]

Keywords

Geological time > Phanerozoic > Geological time > Cenozoic > Paleogene > Palaeogene > Eocene > Ypresian
Actinopterygii [WoRMS]
Belgium, Aalter [Marine Regions]; Belgium, Dilbeek [Marine Regions]; Belgium, Erpe-Mere [Marine Regions]; Belgium, Frasnes-lez-Anvaing [Marine Regions]; Belgium, Heuvelland [Marine Regions]; Belgium, Ronse [Marine Regions]
Marine/Coastal

Author keywords

Otolith, stable isotopes, early Eocene, EECO, North Sea Basin, shallow marine, paleoclimate

Authors		Top
Vanhove, D., more Stassen, P., more Speijer, R.P., more Steurbaut, E., more

Abstract

The Paleogene greenhouse world comprises variable paleoclimate conditions providing an indispensable deep-time perspective for the possible effects of human-induced climate change. In this paper, paleotemperature data of the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO) from the mid-latitude marginal marine Belgian Basin are discussed. They are derived from fish otolith d¹⁸O compositions of four non-migratory species belonging to the families Congridae and Ophidiidae. Otoliths from several levels and localities within the middle to late Ypresian were selected. After manual polishing, bulk and incremental microsamples were drilled and analyzed by a mass spectrometer. A cross-plot of bulk otolith d¹⁸O vs. d¹³C results shows a discrepancy between both families used. Ophidiid data probably represent true bottom water temperatures of the Belgian Basin. The mean annual temperature (MAT) of the EECO is calculated at 27.5 °C, which is in line with other proxy results. However, variations in MAT up to 6 °C occur, suggesting a pronounced expression of climate variability in mid-latitude marginal basins. Incremental analyses revealed a ~9.5 °C mean annual range of temperatures, similar to modern seasonality. These results show that marginal marine environments such as the Belgian Basin are well suited to infer high-resolution paleoclimate variability.

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