About This Item

Share This Item

The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

AAPG Special Volumes

Abstract


 
Chapter from: SG 40:  Paleogeography, Paleoclimate, and Source Rocks
Edited By 
Alain-Yves Huc

Author: 
George T. Moore, Eric J. Barron, and Darryl N. Hayashida

Geochemistry, Generation, Migration

Published 1995 as part of Studies in Geology 40
Copyright © 1995 The American Association of Petroleum Geologists.   All Rights Reserved.
 
Chapter 7

*

Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) General Lithostratigraphy and Source Rock Quality for the Western Tethys Sea Inferred from Paleoclimate Results Using a General Circulation Model

George T. Moore

Eric J. Barron

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Darryl N. Hayashida

Chevron Petroleum Technology Company

La Habra, California, U.S.A.
 
 

ABSTRACT


The application of any General Circulation Model (GCM) simulation is only as valuable as: the quality of the original input boundary conditions, the computer model used and its track record for producing quality paleoclimate simulations, and the extent to which the simulation results have been tested successfully with the geologic record. We utilize a global simulation of the Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) to focus on an area of investigation. The simulation was tested against the geologic record. The results replicate the paleoclimate with a consistency that is acceptable, if not impressive. Therefore, the results can be utilized to map the distribution of climatically sensitive sediments within a given area.

The study area includes the western part of the Tethys Sea, which was a zonally oriented tropical sea at a paleolatitude of about 0°-25°N and isolated from the Panthalassa Ocean by an isthmus. The sea was characterized by warm tropical surface water and generally strong net evaporation creating conditions of low oxygen content and elevated salinities in the surface water mass. Much of the margin receives insufficient precipitation to maintain lasting soil moisture or generate runoff to the sea in any season, precluding development of a lush vegetative cover. The general lack of runoff improves conditions for reef growth and carbonate deposition on the continental shelves. Much of the margin possesses wind-driven coastal upwelling. As a positive correlation exists between upwelling and high primary productivity on the margins of today's World Ocean, we predict that a similar relationship occurred in the Kimmeridgian Western Tethys Sea.

 

Pay-Per-View Purchase Options

The article is available through a document delivery service. Explain these Purchase Options.

Watermarked PDF Document: $14
Open PDF Document: $24