Cited by 52Geology and Paleoclimatology ResearchPaleontology and Stratigraphy of FossilsEvolution and Paleontology Studies

Absolute seasonal temperature estimates from clumped isotopes in bivalve shells suggest warm and variable greenhouse climate

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de Winter, Niels J., Müller, Inigo A., Kocken, Ilja J., Thibault, Nicolas, Ullmann, Clemens V., Farnsworth, Alex, Lunt, Daniel J., Claeys, Philippe +1 more·2021·Communications Earth & Environment

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Seasonal variability in sea surface temperatures plays a fundamental role in climate dynamics and species distribution. Seasonal bias can also severely compromise the accuracy of mean annual temperature reconstructions. It is therefore essential to better understand seasonal variability in climates of the past. Many reconstructions of climate in deep time neglect this issue and rely on controversial assumptions, such as estimates of sea water oxygen isotope composition. Here we present absolute seasonal temperature reconstructions based on clumped isotope measurements in bivalve shells which, critically, do not rely on these assumptions. We reconstruct highly precise monthly sea surface temperatures at around 50 °N latitude from individual oyster and rudist shells of the Campanian greenhouse period about 78 million years ago, when the seasonal range at 50 °N comprised 15 to 27 °C. In agreement with fully coupled climate model simulations, we find that greenhouse climates outside the tropics were warmer and more seasonal than previously thought. We conclude that seasonal bias and assumptions about seawater composition can distort temperature reconstructions and our understanding of past greenhouse climates.

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  • High-resolution Δ47 sclerochronology has identified increased seasonality and warmth in Late Cretaceous mid-latitude oceans.

    “Already, high-resolution 47 sclerochronology has identified increased seasonality and warmth in the Late Cretaceous mid-latitude oceans (de Winter et al. 2021).”

    From Frontiers of Carbonate Clumped Isotope Thermometry (2023) · cites this paper as de Winter et al. 2021

    The paper describes monthly resolved Δ47 reconstructions from Campanian shells in southern Sweden (46 ± 3°N paleolatitude). Its Comparison between specimens section reports a 15–27 °C seasonal range and calls the climate warmer and highly seasonal; Data-model comparison reports temperatures up to ~8 °C warmer than today. But the Results say modeled seasonality under the better-fitting 4× CO₂ scenario resembles the present, rather than establishing increased ocean seasonality relative to today. Page numbers were unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Lovejoy, T. E. Climate Change And Biodiversity. (TERI Press, New Delhi, India, 2006).
  2. IPCC. IPCC, 2013: Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 1535 pp. (Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge, UK, and New York, 2013).

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Authors
de Winter, N. J., Müller, I. A., Kocken, I. J., Thibault, N., Ullmann, C. V., Farnsworth, A., Lunt, D. J., Claeys, P., & Ziegler, M.
Affiliations
  • Utrecht University (NL)
  • University of Copenhagen (DK)
  • University of Exeter (GB)
  • Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
  • University of Bristol (GB)
  • Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
Venue
Communications Earth & Environment
Published
2021-06-10
Volume
2
Issue
1
ISSN
2662-4435 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3168403534
Cited by
52
References
78
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 5 · 2012: 1
FWCI
2.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Communications Earth & Environment (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Square (acceptedVersion, cc-by)
  • Flanders Marine Institute (Flanders Marine Institute) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • VU Research Portal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • VUBIR (Vrije Universiteit Brussel) (submittedVersion)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Bristol Research (University of Bristol) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
EC | Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (843011)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
Keywords
clumped isotopes, sea surface temperature, seasonal temperature variation, bivalve shells, oysters, rudists, Campanian, greenhouse microclimate, paleoclimate reconstruction, seasonal bias, Cretaceous climate, paleoceanography

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