Tectonic Boundary Conditions for Climate Reconstructions

by Thomas J. Crowley, Kevin C. Burke

Overview

In recent years there has been a movement to break down old disciplinary boundaries in the geosciences to develop a more unified view of the earth as an integrated system, but efforts to integrate solid earth and climate studies have not progressed as rapidly as other areas. Responding to this deficiency, this volume provides an in-depth examination of climate modeling—an area which can benefit enormously from the interaction between solid earth geophysical studies and climate studies. Written by eminent figures from both disciplines, this volume focuses on the role of tectonic boundary conditions for paleoclimate reconstructions. Chapters present background material on the impact of tectonic changes on climate, as well as the uncertainties in tectonic boundary conditions, such as positions of continents, height of mountains, depth of sea floor, among others.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195112450
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	12/03/1998
Series:	Oxford Monographs on Geology and Geophysics , #39
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Texas A&M University

University of Houston

Table of Contents

1. Introduction2. Role of Continental Configuration3. Role of Continental Elevation4. Role of Epeiric Seas5. Role of Ocean Gateways6. Role of Bathymetry7. Tectonics and CO[2

Editorial Reviews

"[T]he focus of Tectonic Boundary Conditions for Climate Reconstructions, is the use of past tectonic configurations derived from field studies as 'boundary conditions' in climate-model experiments. Model simulations using altered tectonic configurations produce quantitative estimates of climates different from those today, and these can be compared against estimates of past climate derived from independent geologic data. Climatic hypotheses must now pass the more rigorous test of quantitative validation by model simulations. . . . Editorially, grammatically, and overall, this volume is generally high in quality, and most chapters are ambitious attempts to engage some aspect of the complex boundary-condition problem."—Eos

From the Publisher