Collaborative Research: Calibrating mid-Miocene greenhouse climate and ecology in a key high southern latitude locale

合作研究：校准中中新世温室气候和生态学在一个关键的高纬度南部地区马修J.科恩，博伊西州立大学，1349749理查德凯，杜克大学，1349741卡罗琳斯特龙伯格，华盛顿大学，1349530中中新世气候最佳期（MMCO; 1450 - 1700万年前，马）标志着地球上一个异常温暖的时期？这是历史上最后一次大气中二氧化碳含量（pCO 2）在下一个世纪达到预期的水平。因此，MMCO是我们预测未来温室条件的最佳模拟。拟议的研究将填补一个主要的空白，在分布的MMCO陆地地点的特点气候和生态的地球？最南端的网站？巴塔哥尼亚海岸（南纬51 °）的圣克鲁斯组。 以往的工作和模式不同意的平均年气温（MAT），平均年降水量（MAP）和降水的季节性。我们将在两个特定的时间：17.45（前峰MMCO）和16.85马（峰MMCO）评估有关MAT，MAP和植被的古生态和古气候假设。稳定同位素组成将用于推断干旱和季节性。植硅石（植物二氧化硅颗粒）将区分植物群落。牙齿磨损和动物群将限制栖息地和气候。我们的研究还将相互比较推断古生态学和古气候在陆地环境中的各种方法，对全球陆地气候相互比较具有广泛的影响。研究结果的传播和共享将遵守NSF 13 -1中所述的指导方针。伯克博物馆将建造一个新的展览（c. 20，000名K-12学生，C。75，000总数）关于生物对气候变化的反应，以及附带的网页（“探索你的世界”，“伯克博客”条目）和社交媒体（例如，Facebook）。一些研究生将得到支持，美国和阿根廷研究人员之间的新的古气候-古生态学-古生物学网络将启动。

Collaborative Research: Calibrating mid-Miocene greenhouse climate and e4cology in a key high southern latitude localeBy Matthew J. Kohn, Boise State University, EAR-1349749Richard Kay, Duke University, EAR-1349741Caroline Stromberg, University of Washington, EAR-1349530The mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO; 14.5-17.0 million years ago, Ma) marks an unusually warm period in Earth?s history and is the last time that atmospheric CO2 content (pCO2) plausibly reached levels as high as anticipated in the next century. Thus the MMCO serves as our best analogue for predicting future greenhouse conditions. The proposed research will fill a major gap in the distribution of MMCO terrestrial localities by characterizing climates and ecologies of Earth?s southernmost site ? the Santa Cruz Formation of coastal Patagonia (51 °S). Previous work and models disagree in terms of mean annual temperature (MAT), mean annual precipitation (MAP) and the seasonality of precipitation. We will evaluate paleoecological and paleoclimate hypotheses regarding MAT, MAP and vegetation at two specific times: 17.45 (pre-peak MMCO) and 16.85 Ma (peak MMCO). Stable isotope compositions will be used to infer aridity and seasonality. Phytoliths (plant silica particles) will distinguish plant communities. Tooth wear and faunas will constrain habitat and climate. Our research will also intercompare diverse methods of inferring paleoecology and paleoclimate in terrestrial settings with broad implications for terrestrial climate intercomparisons worldwide. Dissemination and sharing of research results will comply with guidelines expressed in NSF13-1. A new exhibit will be constructed at the Burke Museum (annual visitation of c. 20,000 K-12 students, c. 75,000 total) on biotic responses to climate change, as well as accompanying web pages ("Explore Your World," "Burke Blog" entries) and social media (e.g., Facebook). Several graduate students will be supported, and new paleoclimate-paleoecology-paleontology networks among US and Argentine researchers will be initiated.