Investigation of early Eocene water-vapor transport and paleoelevation using oxygen isotope data from geographically widespread mammal remains

Research Article| September 01, 2003 Investigation of early Eocene water-vapor transport and paleoelevation using oxygen isotope data from geographically widespread mammal remains Henry C. Fricke Henry C. Fricke 1Department of Geology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Henry C. Fricke 1Department of Geology, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80903, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 03 Sep 2002 Revision Received: 29 Jan 2003 Accepted: 04 Mar 2003 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2003) 115 (9): 1088–1096. https://doi.org/10.1130/B25249.1 Article history Received: 03 Sep 2002 Revision Received: 29 Jan 2003 Accepted: 04 Mar 2003 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Henry C. Fricke; Investigation of early Eocene water-vapor transport and paleoelevation using oxygen isotope data from geographically widespread mammal remains. GSA Bulletin 2003;; 115 (9): 1088–1096. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B25249.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The oxygen isotope composition (δ18O) of apatite from mammalian tooth enamel can be used to infer the δ18O value of ingested water, which is in turn related to that of precipitation stored in surface reservoirs. Therefore, the δ18O value of phosphate from fossil tooth enamel can be used to infer the δ18O value of these reservoirs in the past. In this paper, tooth enamel from a semiaquatic mammal taxon (Coryphodon) collected from five early Eocene localities in North America is used to construct patterns in δ18O values of river water for this time period.At all localities, the δ18O value of river water (δ18Or) is estimated to have been higher during the early Eocene relative to present-day North American rivers, although the δ18O vs. latitude gradient was shallower during the Eocene. Higher δ18Or values are consistent with warmer Eocene air masses being able to hold more water vapor and with an increase in the poleward transport of both moisture and latent heat. The regular decrease in δ18Or with latitude indicates that global atmospheric circulation patterns and hydrological transport were not much different from those of the present, although the shallower δ18O vs. latitude gradient during the Eocene may reflect regional differences in precipitation, evaporation, and river recharge.At a more regional scale, the δ18O value of river water can provide insight into topographic relief during the early Eocene. In the case of intermontane basins of Wyoming, differences in average δ18Or values between basins indicate that Laramide mountain relief was on the order of 475 m. It is suggested that anomalously low δ18Or values reported previously do not provide unambiguous evidence for permanent snow at higher elevations and may instead reflect brief episodes of cooler winters and/or altered atmospheric circulation patterns. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.