Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-373
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-373
27 Mar 2023
 | 27 Mar 2023
Status: this preprint is open for discussion and under review for Climate of the Past (CP).

Dynamic environment but no temperature change since the late Paleogene at Lühe Basin (Yunnan, China)

Caitlyn R. Witkowski, Vittoria Lauretano, Alex Farnsworth, Shufeng Li, Shi-Hu Li, Jan Peter Mayser, B. David A. Naafs, Robert A. Spicer, Tao Su, He Tang, Zhe-Kun Zhou, Paul J. Valdes, and Richard D. Pancost

Abstract. The complex tectonic evolution in the Tibetan region has impacted climate, the Asian monsoon system, and the development of major biodiversity hotspots, especially since the onset of the India-Eurasia continental collision during the early Paleogene. Untangling the links between the geologic, climatic, and ecological history of the broader region can provide insights into these Earth system mechanisms, relevant for the future of our rapidly changing planet. To better understand environmental conditions across this critical time and place, we reconstruct the climatic and environmental history from a key sedimentary repository within the Lühe Basin, Yunnan, China, uniquely located between high elevation Tibet and low elevation coastal China. We investigate a 340-m long section using a multi-proxy organic geochemistry approach, complemented with sedimentological interpretations and climate model simulations. The complementary organic geochemical proxies, including n-alkanes, terpenoids, and hopanes, suggest that these thermally immature sediments were deposited in a dynamic environment that fluctuated between low energy floodplains and high energy fluvial systems. Our branched glycerol diakyl glycerol tetraether-based proxies indicate terrestrial temperatures of around 17 °C ± 3 SD and our model-based temperatures indicate terrestrial temperatures for Chattian of around 19 °C, consistent with the literature palaeobotany-based temperatures from the nearby Lühe town section. These combined palaeotemperatures match present-day values, suggesting that this area has not undergone significant temperature change since the late Paleogene.

Caitlyn R. Witkowski et al.

Status: open (until 26 Jun 2023)

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-373', Anonymous Referee #1, 03 May 2023 reply
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-373', Anonymous Referee #2, 10 May 2023 reply

Caitlyn R. Witkowski et al.

Caitlyn R. Witkowski et al.

Viewed

Total article views: 273 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
HTML PDF XML Total Supplement BibTeX EndNote
203 60 10 273 36 3 3
  • HTML: 203
  • PDF: 60
  • XML: 10
  • Total: 273
  • Supplement: 36
  • BibTeX: 3
  • EndNote: 3
Views and downloads (calculated since 27 Mar 2023)
Cumulative views and downloads (calculated since 27 Mar 2023)

Viewed (geographical distribution)

Total article views: 270 (including HTML, PDF, and XML) Thereof 270 with geography defined and 0 with unknown origin.
Country # Views %
  • 1
1
 
 
 
 
Latest update: 04 Jun 2023
Download
Short summary
Untangling the complex tectonic evolution in the Tibetan region can help us understand its impacts on climate, the Asian monsoon system, and the development of major biodiversity hotspots. We show that this “missing link” site between high elevation Tibet and low elevation coastal China had a dynamic environment but no temperature change, meaning its been at its current-day elevation for the past 34 million years.