Evidence for extreme climatic warmth from Late Cretaceous Arctic vertebrates

Authors
Tarduno, JA Brinkman, DB Renne, PR Cottrell, RD Scher, H Castillo, P
Citation
Ja. Tarduno et al., Evidence for extreme climatic warmth from Late Cretaceous Arctic vertebrates, SCIENCE, 282(5397), 1998, pp. 2241-2244
Citations number
35
Categorie Soggetti
Multidisciplinary,Multidisciplinary,Multidisciplinary
Journal title
SCIENCE
ISSN journal
00368075 → ACNP
Volume
282
Issue
5397
Year of publication
1998
Pages
2241 - 2244
Database
ISI
SICI code
0036-8075(199812)282:5397<2241:EFECWF>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
A Late Cretaceous (92 to 86 million years ago) vertebrate assemblage from t he high Canadian Arctic (Axel Heiberg Island) implies that polar climates w ere warm (mean annual temperature exceeding 14 degrees C) rather than near freezing. The assemblage includes Large (2.4 meters Long) champsosaurs, whi ch are extinct crocodilelike reptiles. Magmatism at six Large igneous provi nces at this time suggests that volcanic carbon dioxide emissions helped ca use the global warmth.