Abstract Detail

Paleobotanical Section

Liu, (Christopher) Yusheng [1].

The evolution of Miocene climates in North China: preliminary results of quantitative reconstructions from plant fossil records.

The Miocene climate evolution in North China is discussed by means of comparisons in seven climate parameters quantitatively reconstructed by the Coexistence Approach on 34 carefully selected macro- and microfloras over North China. The Miocene temperatures show no great difference in the western and eastern part of North China. The temperature fluctuation, particularly the mean annual temperature, is found within floras from several sites. The fluctuation pattern, from climate optimum in the mid Miocene to cooling decline in the late Miocene, is consistent with the global trend of Miocene temperature change. More interesting results are from the precipitation reconstruction. The reconstructed precipitations from all the sites studied show a much wetter condition in North China during the Miocene, which corroborate the results from paleoprecipitation proxy of fossil mammals. It is suggested that North China, particularly in the western part, was by no means under an arid or semi-arid environment during the Miocene. Additionally, North China is an ideal region for study of the origin of East Asian monsoon system. Our results support a late onset or intensification of the East Asian monsoon regime in China, contrasted with conclusions from qualitative analyses of paleobotanical and lithological data. Possible reasons for inconsistency in temperature and precipitation changes are discussed. Focuses on future work to improve the resolution of climate evolution are also pointed out.

Broader Impacts:
Miocene climate from Northern China is quantitatively reconstructed based on plant fossil records.

1 - East Tennessee State University, Biological Sciences, PO Box 70703, Johnson City, TN, 37614-1700, USA

Keywords:
Fossil
East Asian monsoon
Miocene
North China
quantitative paleoclimate reconstructions.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 54
Location: 556A/Convention Center
Date: Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
Time: 11:30 AM
Number: 54005
Abstract ID:159