Arabia-Eurasia collision and the forcing of mid-Cenozoic global cooling

Allen, M.B.; Armstrong, H.A.

Abstract

The end of the Eocene greenhouse world was the most dramatic phase in the long-term cooling trend of the Cenozoic Era. Here we show that the Arabia–Eurasia collision and the closure of the Tethys ocean gateway began in the Late Eocene at ~ 35 Ma, up to 25 million years earlier than in many reconstructions. We suggest that global cooling was forced by processes associated with the initial collision that reduced atmospheric CO2. These are: 1) waning volcanism across southwest Asia; 2) increased organic carbon storage in Paratethyan basins (e.g. Black Sea and South Caspian); 3) increased silicate weathering in the collision zone and, 4) a shift towards modern patterns of ocean currents, associated with increased vigour in circulation and organic productivity.

Citation

Allen, M., & Armstrong, H. (2008). Arabia-Eurasia collision and the forcing of mid-Cenozoic global cooling. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 265(1-2), 52-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.04.021

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2008
• Deposit Date: Feb 17, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 17, 2015
• Journal: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
• Print ISSN: 0031-0182
• Electronic ISSN: 1872-616X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 265
• Issue: 1-2
• Pages: 52-58
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.04.021
• Keywords: Eocene, Oligocene, Tethys, Arabia–Eurasia collision, Global cooling
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1528764