High tide of the warm pliocene: Implications of global sea level for Antarctic deglaciation

Kenneth G. Miller; James D. Wright; James V. Browning; Andrew Kulpecz; Michelle Kominz; Tim R. Naish; Benjamin S. Cramer; Yair Rosenthal; W. Richard Peltier; Sindia Sosdian

doi:10.1130/G32869.1

High tide of the warm pliocene: Implications of global sea level for Antarctic deglaciation

Kenneth G. Miller, James D. Wright, James V. Browning, Andrew Kulpecz, Michelle Kominz, Tim R. Naish, Benjamin S. Cramer, Yair Rosenthal, W. Richard Peltier, Sindia Sosdian

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Abstract

We obtained global sea-level (eustatic) estimates with a peak of ~22 m higher than present for the Pliocene interval 2.7-3.2 Ma from backstripping in Virginia (United States), New Zealand, and Enewetak Atoll (north Pacific Ocean), benthic foraminiferal 18O values, and Mg/Ca- δ¹⁸O estimates. Statistical analysis indicates that it is likely (68% confidence interval) that peak sea level was 22 ± 5 m higher than modern, and extremely likely (95%) that it was 22 ± 10 m higher than modern. Benthic foraminiferal δ¹⁸O values appear to require that the peak was <20-21 m. Our estimates imply loss of the equivalent of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, and some volume loss from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, and address the longstanding controversy concerning the Pliocene stability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	407-410
Number of pages	4
Journal	Geology
Volume	40
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1130/G32869.1
State	Published - May 2012

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Geology

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10.1130/G32869.1

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title = "High tide of the warm pliocene: Implications of global sea level for Antarctic deglaciation",

abstract = "We obtained global sea-level (eustatic) estimates with a peak of ~22 m higher than present for the Pliocene interval 2.7-3.2 Ma from backstripping in Virginia (United States), New Zealand, and Enewetak Atoll (north Pacific Ocean), benthic foraminiferal 18O values, and Mg/Ca- δ18O estimates. Statistical analysis indicates that it is likely (68% confidence interval) that peak sea level was 22 ± 5 m higher than modern, and extremely likely (95%) that it was 22 ± 10 m higher than modern. Benthic foraminiferal δ18O values appear to require that the peak was <20-21 m. Our estimates imply loss of the equivalent of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, and some volume loss from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, and address the longstanding controversy concerning the Pliocene stability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.",

author = "Miller, {Kenneth G.} and Wright, {James D.} and Browning, {James V.} and Andrew Kulpecz and Michelle Kominz and Naish, {Tim R.} and Cramer, {Benjamin S.} and Yair Rosenthal and Peltier, {W. Richard} and Sindia Sosdian",

year = "2012",

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doi = "10.1130/G32869.1",

language = "English (US)",

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T2 - Implications of global sea level for Antarctic deglaciation

AU - Miller, Kenneth G.

AU - Wright, James D.

AU - Browning, James V.

AU - Kulpecz, Andrew

AU - Kominz, Michelle

AU - Naish, Tim R.

AU - Cramer, Benjamin S.

AU - Rosenthal, Yair

AU - Peltier, W. Richard

AU - Sosdian, Sindia

PY - 2012/5

Y1 - 2012/5

N2 - We obtained global sea-level (eustatic) estimates with a peak of ~22 m higher than present for the Pliocene interval 2.7-3.2 Ma from backstripping in Virginia (United States), New Zealand, and Enewetak Atoll (north Pacific Ocean), benthic foraminiferal 18O values, and Mg/Ca- δ18O estimates. Statistical analysis indicates that it is likely (68% confidence interval) that peak sea level was 22 ± 5 m higher than modern, and extremely likely (95%) that it was 22 ± 10 m higher than modern. Benthic foraminiferal δ18O values appear to require that the peak was <20-21 m. Our estimates imply loss of the equivalent of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, and some volume loss from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, and address the longstanding controversy concerning the Pliocene stability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.

AB - We obtained global sea-level (eustatic) estimates with a peak of ~22 m higher than present for the Pliocene interval 2.7-3.2 Ma from backstripping in Virginia (United States), New Zealand, and Enewetak Atoll (north Pacific Ocean), benthic foraminiferal 18O values, and Mg/Ca- δ18O estimates. Statistical analysis indicates that it is likely (68% confidence interval) that peak sea level was 22 ± 5 m higher than modern, and extremely likely (95%) that it was 22 ± 10 m higher than modern. Benthic foraminiferal δ18O values appear to require that the peak was <20-21 m. Our estimates imply loss of the equivalent of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets, and some volume loss from the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, and address the longstanding controversy concerning the Pliocene stability of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet.

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JO - Geology

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High tide of the warm pliocene: Implications of global sea level for Antarctic deglaciation

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