Description: Terrestrial water isotope records preserve a history of hydrological cycling that is influenced by past climate and surface topography. δ18O and δD records from authigenic minerals of the western United States display a long-term increase during the Neogene in the vicinity of the Sierra Nevada and the central Rocky Mountains (Rockies), but a smaller increase or decrease in the northern Great Basin. Interpretations of these isotopic trends require quantitative estimates of the influence of climatic and environmental changes on δ18O and δD of soil water. Here we use a coupled atmosphere-land model with water-isotopologue tracking capabilities, ECHAM5-JSBACH-wiso, to simulate precipitation and δ18O responses to elevation-independent changes in Neogene geography, equator to pole temperature gradient (EPGRAD), grassland expansion, and tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures. Both precipitation and soil water δ18O (δ18Osw) respond strongly to Neogene strengthening of the EPGRAD, but weakly to other forcings. An increase in EPGRAD leads to significant drying and 18O enrichment (3‰–5‰) of soil water over the northern Sierra Nevada and central Rockies as a result of Hadley circulation strengthening and enhanced coastal subtropical subsidence. These large-scale circulation changes reduce inland moisture transport from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. Our simulated δ18Osw responses could explain 50%–100% of the proxy δ18O increases over the Sierra Nevada and central Rockies, suggesting that climate change rather than surface subsidence may have been the dominant climate signal in δ18O records in these regions. On the contrary, δ18O responses to climate changes are small in the Great Basin, indicating that the observed δ18O increase over this region was likely a direct response to surface subsidence with elevation losses of 1–1.5 km. Adding this elevation loss to current Great Basin elevations reveals the former existence of a uniformly high plateau extending from the Sierra Nevada to the central Rockies prior to Neogene extension. This revised elevation history brings Neogene δ18O and δD paleoaltimetry of the western United States in accordance with independent lines of structural evidence and early Cenozoic elevation reconstructions.

Description: Variations in oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) measured from modern precipitation and geologic archives provide a promising tool for understanding modern and past climate dynamics and tracking elevation changes over geologic time. In areas of extreme topography, such as the Tibetan Plateau, the interpretation of δ18O has proven challenging. This study investigates the climate controls on temporal (daily and 6 h intervals) and spatial variations in present-day precipitation δ18O (δ18Op) across the Tibetan Plateau using a 30 year record produced from the European Centre/Hamburg ECHAM5-wiso global atmospheric general circulation model (GCM). Results indicate spatial and temporal agreement between model-predicted δ18Op and observations. Large daily δ18Op variations of 25 to +5‰ occur over the Tibetan Plateau throughout the 30 simulation years, along with interannual δ18Op variations of ~2‰. Analysis of extreme daily δ18Op indicates that extreme low values coincide with extreme highs in precipitation amount. During the summer, monsoon vapor transport from the north and southwest of the plateau generally corresponds with high δ18Op, whereas vapor transport from the Indian Ocean corresponds with average to low δ18Op. Thus, vapor source variations are one important cause of the spatial-temporal differences in δ18Op. Comparison of GCM and Rayleigh Distillation Model (RDM)-predicted δ18Op indicates a modest agreement for the Himalaya region (averaged over 86°–94°E), confirming application of the simpler RDM approach for estimating δ18Op lapse rates across Himalaya.

Description: Variations in oxygen isotope compositions (δ18O) provide insight into modern climate and past changes in climate and topography. In addition, in regions such as Tibet, geologic archives of isotope ratios record climate change driven by plateau uplift and therefore also provide information about the surface uplift history. A good understanding of modern-day controls on δ18O is crucial for interpreting geologic δ18O in this context. We use the ECHAM5-wiso global atmospheric general circulation model to calculate δ18O in precipitation (δ18Op) for the present-day climate. In the region of the Tibetan Plateau, spatial variations of monthly means of δ18Op are statistically related to spatial variations of 2 m air temperature and precipitation rate, as well as to topography. The size and location of investigated regions are varied in our study to capture regional differences in these relationships and the processes governing the modern δ18Op. In addition to correlation analyses, a cross-validated stepwise multiple regression is carried out using δ18Op as the predictand, and topography and atmospheric variables (temperature and precipitation amount) as predictors. The 2 m air temperature and topography yield the highest spatial correlation coefficients of 〉0.9 and 〈 0.9, respectively, throughout most of the year. Particularly high correlation coefficients are calculated for the region along the Himalayan orogeny and parts of western China. The predictors explain 〉90% of the δ18Op spatial variance in the same regions. The 2 m air temperature is the dominant predictor and contributes 93.6% to the total explained spatial variance on average. The results demonstrate that most of the δ18Op pattern on and around the Tibetan Plateau can be explained by variation in 2 m air temperature and altitude. Correlation of the dependent predictors indicate that in low-altitude regions where topography does not determine temperature variability, the high correlation of temperature and δ18Op may partially be explained by variations in precipitation rates.

Description: The transition from the Cretaceous “Supergreenhouse” to the Oligocene icehouse provides an opportunity to study changes in Earth system dynamics from a time when climate models suggest CO2 levels may have been as high as 3500 ppmv (parts per million by volume) and then declined to less than 560 ppmv. During the Supergreenhouse interval meridional temperature gradients were very low and oceanic deposition was punctuated by episodes of widespread anoxia, termed Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs) resulting in large scale burial of organic carbon reflected in positive delta 13C excursions. High CO2, greenhouse climate conditions are envisioned for the near future calling for action to get a better understanding of their potential impacts and dynamics. Climate models have identified significant geography-related Cenozoic cooling arising from the opening of Southern Ocean gateways, pointing towards a progressive strengthening of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current as the major cause for cooler deep ocean temperatures. Analogous arguments point to an important role for deep circulation in explaining Late Cretaceous climate evolution. The Agulhas Plateau is located in a key area for retrieving high-quality geochemical records to test competing models, e.g. to what extent and exactly when the opening of Drake Passage contributed to cooling of the deep ocean. The proposed drill sites on Agulhas Plateau and Transkei Basin are at high latitudes (65°S-58°S from 100 to 65 Ma) and within a gateway between the newly opening South Atlantic, Southern Ocean and southern Indian Ocean basins. Recovery of expanded and stratigraphically complete pelagic carbonate sequences from this region, and comparison with drilling results from Naturaliste Plateau (760-Full), will provide a wealth of new data to significantly advance the understanding of how Cretaceous temperatures, ocean circulation, and sedimentation patterns evolved as CO2 level rose and fell, and the breakup of Gondwana progressed.

Description: The transition from the Cretaceous “Supergreenhouse” to the Oligocene icehouse provides an opportunity to study changes in Earth system dynamics from a time when climate models suggest CO2 levels may have been as high as 3500 ppmv (parts per million by volume) and then declined to less than 560 ppmv. During the Supergreenhouse interval meridional temperature gradients were very low and oceanic deposition was punctuated by episodes of widespread anoxia, termed Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs) resulting in large scale burial of organic carbon reflected in positive delta 13C excursions. High CO2, greenhouse climate conditions are envisioned for the near future calling for action to get a better understanding of their potential impacts and dynamics. Climate models have identified significant geography-related Cenozoic cooling arising from the opening of Southern Ocean gateways, pointing towards a progressive strengthening of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current as the major cause for cooler deep ocean temperatures. Analogous arguments point to an important role for deep circulation in explaining Late Cretaceous climate evolution. The Agulhas Plateau is located in a key area for retrieving high-quality geochemical records to test competing models, e.g. to what extent and exactly when the opening of Drake Passage contributed to cooling of the deep ocean. The proposed drill sites on Agulhas Plateau and Transkei Basin are at high latitudes (65°S-58°S from 100 to 65 Ma) and within a gateway between the newly opening South Atlantic, Southern Ocean and southern Indian Ocean basins. Recovery of expanded and stratigraphically complete pelagic carbonate sequences from this region, and comparison with drilling results from Naturaliste Plateau (760-Full), will provide a wealth of new data to significantly advance the understanding of how Cretaceous temperatures, ocean circulation, and sedimentation patterns evolved as CO2 level rose and fell, and the breakup of Gondwana progressed.

Description: The transition from the Cretaceous “Supergreenhouse” to the Oligocene icehouse provides an opportunity to study changes in Earth system dynamics from a time when climate models suggest CO2 levels may have been as high as 3500 ppmv (parts per million by volume) and then declined to less than 560 ppmv. During the Supergreenhouse interval meridional temperature gradients were very low and oceanic deposition was punctuated by episodes of widespread anoxia, termed Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs) resulting in large scale burial of organic carbon reflected in positive delta 13C excursions. High CO2, greenhouse climate conditions are envisioned for the near future calling for action to get a better understanding of their potential impacts and dynamics. Climate models have identified significant geography-related Cenozoic cooling arising from the opening of Southern Ocean gateways, pointing towards a progressive strengthening of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current as the major cause for cooler deep ocean temperatures. Analogous arguments point to an important role for deep circulation in explaining Late Cretaceous climate evolution. The Agulhas Plateau is located in a key area for retrieving high-quality geochemical records to test competing models, e.g. to what extent and exactly when the opening of Drake Passage contributed to cooling of the deep ocean. The proposed drill sites on Agulhas Plateau and Transkei Basin are at high latitudes (65°S-58°S from 100 to 65 Ma) and within a gateway between the newly opening South Atlantic, Southern Ocean and southern Indian Ocean basins. Recovery of expanded and stratigraphically complete pelagic carbonate sequences from this region, and comparison with drilling results from Naturaliste Plateau (760-Full), will provide a wealth of new data to significantly advance the understanding of how Cretaceous temperatures, ocean circulation, and sedimentation patterns evolved as CO2 level rose and fell, and the breakup of Gondwana progressed.

Description: Past warm periods provide an opportunity to evaluate climate models under extreme forcing scenarios, in particular high ( 〉  800 ppmv) atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Although a post hoc intercomparison of Eocene ( ∼  50  Ma) climate model simulations and geological data has been carried out previously, models of past high-CO2 periods have never been evaluated in a consistent framework. Here, we present an experimental design for climate model simulations of three warm periods within the early Eocene and the latest Paleocene (the EECO, PETM, and pre-PETM). Together with the CMIP6 pre-industrial control and abrupt 4 ×  CO2 simulations, and additional sensitivity studies, these form the first phase of DeepMIP – the Deep-time Model Intercomparison Project, itself a group within the wider Paleoclimate Modelling Intercomparison Project (PMIP). The experimental design specifies and provides guidance on boundary conditions associated with palaeogeography, greenhouse gases, astronomical configuration, solar constant, land surface processes, and aerosols. Initial conditions, simulation length, and output variables are also specified. Finally, we explain how the geological data sets, which will be used to evaluate the simulations, will be developed.