Miocene precipitation in Europe: Temporal trends and spatial gradients

Abstract

It is known from present-day climates that both temporal and spatial variations in precipitation can be more pronounced than those in temperature and thus influence ecosystems and human society in more substantial way. However, very little is known about such variations in the past. Here we present an analysis of 206 palaeoprecipitation data from two twelve million year long proxy records of precipitation for Southwest (Calatayud-Teruel basin) and Central Europe (Western and Central Paratethys), spanning the late Early and Middle to Late Miocene (17.8-5.3 Ma) at a temporal resolution of about 80 kyr and 200 kyr, respectively. The estimates of precipitation are based on the ecophysiological structure of herpetological assemblages. The results show that precipitation variations in both regions have large amplitudes during the Miocene with comparable temporal trends at longer time scales. With locally 300 mm up to more than 1000 mm more rainfall per year than present, the early Langhian and the Tortonian were relatively wet periods, whereas the late Langhian and late Serravallian were relatively dry, with up to 300 to 500 mm less precipitation than present. The most humid time intervals were the early and middle Tortonian washhouse climate periods. Overall, our data suggest that the latitudinal precipitation gradient in Europe from the Middle to Late Miocene were highly variable, with a general tendency towards a reduced gradient relative to present day values. The gradient decreases during cooling periods and increases during warming periods, similar to results from simulations of future climate change. Interestingly, the precipitation gradient was reversed during the second washhouse climate period and the Early Messinian, which may have causes a negative hydrologic balance in the Eastern Paratethys during the latter time. Yet, our reconstructed gradient curve shows no direct correlation with the global temperature signal from oxygen isotopes, which implies a non-linear regional response. Our results further suggest that major fluctuations in the precipitation gradient can be responsible for shifts in ecosystem distribution, and particularly, for faunal turnover in South Western Europe.

Late Miocene sedimentary record of the Danube/Kisalföld Basin: interregional correlation of depositional systems, stratigraphy and structural evolution

“…Variegated and reddish colours are typical for the Kolárovo Fm. and probably resulted from erosion of the uppermost Volkovce Fm., which was deposited during the more arid Messinian times (Böhme et al 2011).…”

Habitat tracking, range dynamics and palaeoclimatic significance of Eurasian giant salamanders (Cryptobranchidae) — indications for elevated Central Asian humidity during Cenozoic global warm periods

“…The Neogene humidity evolution in Central Europe is highly variable (as it was probably also in Central Asia), with frequent changes between humid and semi-arid climates (Böhme et al, , 2011. However, cryptobranchids are not recorded in each and every humid period.…”

Palaeoenvironmental analysis of the Aragonian (middle Miocene) mammalian faunas from the Madrid Basin based on body-size structure

“…In Hauptvogel and Passchier's (2012) study, the analysis of heavy mineral composition of one drill core allowed them to define the Antarctic ice dynamics related to the climatic change during the early to middle Miocene (17 to 14 Ma). Faunal studies based on the evolution of hypsodonty in large herbivorous mammals from Asia (Liu et al, 2008), and modifications on ecophysiological structure of herpetological assemblages (Böhme et al, 2010), also detected a significant increase in aridity related to the Global Cooling Event. Finally, Larsson et al (2011) investigated palynological composition of sediments from the Danish coast (lower to upper Miocene, 19 to 8 Ma) that also showed major climatic shifts during the Miocene.…”