New method to estimate paleoprecipitation using fossil amphibians and reptiles and the middle and late Miocene precipitation gradients in Europe

Research Article| June 01, 2006 New method to estimate paleoprecipitation using fossil amphibians and reptiles and the middle and late Miocene precipitation gradients in Europe M. Böhme; M. Böhme 1Geo-Bio-Centre and Section Paleontology, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University Munich, Richard-Wagner-Strasse 10, D-80333 Munich, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. Ilg; A. Ilg 2Schumannstrasse 83, D-40237 Duesseldorf, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar A. Ossig; A. Ossig 3 Department of Statistics, University of Munich, Akademiestraße 1, D-80799 Munich, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar H. Küchenhoff H. Küchenhoff 3 Department of Statistics, University of Munich, Akademiestraße 1, D-80799 Munich, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information M. Böhme 1Geo-Bio-Centre and Section Paleontology, Department of Earth and Environmental Science, University Munich, Richard-Wagner-Strasse 10, D-80333 Munich, Germany A. Ilg 2Schumannstrasse 83, D-40237 Duesseldorf, Germany A. Ossig 3 Department of Statistics, University of Munich, Akademiestraße 1, D-80799 Munich, Germany H. Küchenhoff 3 Department of Statistics, University of Munich, Akademiestraße 1, D-80799 Munich, Germany Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 08 Dec 2005 Revision Received: 05 Jan 2006 Accepted: 11 Jan 2006 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 The Geological Society of America, Inc. Geology (2006) 34 (6): 425–428. https://doi.org/10.1130/G22460.1 Article history Received: 08 Dec 2005 Revision Received: 05 Jan 2006 Accepted: 11 Jan 2006 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation M. Böhme, A. Ilg, A. Ossig, H. Küchenhoff; New method to estimate paleoprecipitation using fossil amphibians and reptiles and the middle and late Miocene precipitation gradients in Europe. Geology 2006;; 34 (6): 425–428. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G22460.1 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 SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Existing methods for determining paleoprecipitation are subject to large errors (±350– 400 mm or more using mammalian proxies), or are restricted to wet climate systems due to their strong facies dependence (paleobotanical proxies). Here we describe a new paleoprecipitation tool based on an indexing of ecophysiological groups within herpetological communities. In recent communities these indices show a highly significant correlation to annual precipitation (r2 = 0.88), and yield paleoprecipitation estimates with average errors of ±250–280 mm. The approach was validated by comparison with published paleoprecipitation estimates from other methods. The method expands the application of paleoprecipitation tools to dry climate systems and in this way contributes to the establishment of a more comprehensive paleoprecipitation database. This method is applied to two high-resolution time intervals from the European Neogene: the early middle Miocene (early Langhian) and the early late Miocene (early Tortonian). The results indicate that both periods show significant meridional precipitation gradients in Europe, these being stronger in the early Langhian (threefold decrease toward the south) than in the early Tortonian (twofold decrease toward the south). This pattern indicates a strengthening of climatic belts during the middle Miocene climatic optimum due to Southern Hemisphere cooling and an increased contribution of Arctic low-pressure cells to the precipitation from the late Miocene onward due to Northern Hemisphere cooling. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.