Changes

  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps

  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps

  | chapter = Applied paleontology

  | chapter = Applied paleontology

  | frompg  = 17-1

  | frompg  = 17-25

  | topg    = 17-65

  | topg    = 17-25

  | author  = Robert L. Fleisher, H. Richard Lane

  | author  = Robert L. Fleisher, H. Richard Lane

  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch17/ch17.htm

  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch17/ch17.htm

==Biostratigraphic correlation==

==Biostratigraphic correlation==

Because climate is a global phenomenon, the various lithofacies and [[Fossil assemblage|biofacies]] that reflect climate in the time interval of interest must be correlated accurately. Climates may change abruptly, and [[Biostratigraphic correlation and age determination|biostratigraphy]] provides the only practical means to demonstrate the contemporaneity, or lack of it, of contrasting climates.

Because climate is a global phenomenon, the various [[lithofacies]] and [[Fossil assemblage|biofacies]] that reflect climate in the time interval of interest must be correlated accurately. Climates may change abruptly, and [[Biostratigraphic correlation and age determination|biostratigraphy]] provides the only practical means to demonstrate the contemporaneity, or lack of it, of contrasting climates.

==Adaptive morphology==

==Adaptive morphology==

For example, many plants of the tropical rain forest have drip points on their leaves to facilitate rainwater drainage; similar features on fossil leaves can be taken to suggest a similar paleoenvironment.

For example, many plants of the tropical rain forest have drip points on their leaves to facilitate rainwater drainage; similar features on fossil leaves can be taken to suggest a similar paleoenvironment.

This approach can be used even when the significance of the adaptive form is unclear; Wolfe<ref name=ch17r96>Wolfe, J. A., 1979, Temperature parameters of humid to mesic forests of eastern Asia and relation to forests of other regions of the northern hemisphere and Australia: U., S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1106-K, 37 p.</ref> for example, suggests that quantification of angiosperm leaf characteristics (i.e., the percentage of entire-margined leaves) helps us determine [[Tertiary]] temperatures to within [[temperature::1&deg;C]].

This approach can be used even when the significance of the adaptive form is unclear; Wolfe<ref name=ch17r96>Wolfe, J. A., 1979, Temperature parameters of humid to mesic forests of eastern Asia and relation to forests of other regions of the northern hemisphere and Australia: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1106-K, 37 p.</ref> for example, suggests that quantification of angiosperm leaf characteristics (i.e., the percentage of entire-margined leaves) helps us determine [[Tertiary]] temperatures to within [[temperature::1&deg;C]].

==Isotopic paleotemperature==

==Isotopic paleotemperature==

A quantitative community climate model (CCM₁) at the National Center for Atmospheric Research was used by Amoco Production Research to investigate possible causes of [[Late Devonian]] extinctions. The results suggest two things:

A quantitative community climate model (CCM₁) at the National Center for Atmospheric Research was used by Amoco Production Research to investigate possible causes of [[Late Devonian]] extinctions. The results suggest two things:

* There was no perennial snow cover and, hence, no glaciation in the austral regions.<ref name=ch17r69>Ormiston, A., R., Klapper, G., 1992, Paleoclimate, controls on Upper Devonian source rock sequences and stacked extinctions (abs.), in Lidgard, S., Crane, P., R., eds., Fifth North American Paleontological Convention Abstracts and Programs: Paleontological Society Special Publication 6, p. 227.</ref>

* There was no perennial snow cover and, hence, no glaciation in the austral regions.<ref name=ch17r69>Ormiston, A. R., and G. Klapper, 1992, Paleoclimate, controls on Upper Devonian source rock sequences and stacked extinctions (abs.), in S. Lidgard, and P. R. Crane, eds., Fifth North American Paleontological Convention Abstracts and Programs: Paleontological Society Special Publication 6, p. 227.</ref>

* Simulated sea-surface temperatures in the tropics ranged from [[temperature::27&deg;C]] to [[temperature::34&deg;C]]—high enough to kill reefs.<ref name=ch17r84>Thompson, J., Newton, C., 1989, Late Devonian mass extinction: episodic cooling or warming?, in McMillan, N., Embry, A., Glass, D., eds., Devonian of the World: Canadian Petroleum Society Memoir 14, vol. 3, p. 29–34.</ref>

* Simulated sea-surface temperatures in the tropics ranged from [[temperature::27&deg;C]] to [[temperature::34&deg;C]]—high enough to kill reefs.<ref name=ch17r84>Thompson, J., and C. Newton, 1989, Late Devonian mass extinction: episodic cooling or warming?, in N. McMillan, A. Embry, and D. Glass, eds., Devonian of the World: Canadian Petroleum Society Memoir 14, vol. 3, p. 29–34.</ref>

These results support a climatic cause for the extinctions.

These results support a climatic cause for the extinctions.

[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  

[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  

[[Category:Applied paleontology]]

[[Category:Applied paleontology]]