Pulse Brain · Growing Health Evidence Index
Tier 3 — Observational / field trialPeer-reviewed

Lacustrine 87 Sr/ 86 Sr as a tracer to reconstruct Milankovitch forcing of the Eocene hydrologic cycle

M’bark Baddouh, Stephen R. Meyers, Alan R. Carroll, Brian L. Beard, Clark M. Johnson

Earth and Planetary Science Letters · 2016

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Summary

This peer-reviewed study employed strontium isotope geochemistry on Eocene lake sediments to reconstruct past hydrologic cycles and their forcing by orbital (Milankovitch) cycles. By analysing 87Sr/86Sr ratios as a proxy for continental weathering and precipitation intensity, the authors appear to have demonstrated a mechanistic link between astronomical forcing and long-term hydrologic variability during a warm climate epoch. The work contributes to understanding climate-system sensitivity on orbital timescales and may inform models of how precipitation patterns respond to orbital forcing.

UK applicability

This is a palaeoclimate reconstruction study with limited direct applicability to contemporary UK farming or soil management. However, insights into long-term hydrologic sensitivity to orbital forcing may inform UK climate modelling and long-term water resource projections relevant to agricultural resilience.

Key measures

Lacustrine 87Sr/86Sr isotope ratios; spectral analysis of isotopic variation; inferred precipitation and hydrologic cycling patterns

Outcomes reported

The study analysed lacustrine strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) from Eocene-era sediments to reconstruct hydrologic variability. The research appears to have linked astronomical (Milankovitch) cycles to changes in precipitation and weathering patterns during a greenhouse climate interval.

Theme
Climate & resilience
Subject
Other / interdisciplinary
Study type
Research
Study design
Laboratory analysis of geological records
Source type
Peer-reviewed study
Status
Published
Geography
United States
System type
Other
DOI
10.1016/j.epsl.2016.05.007
Catalogue ID
BFmokjoedh-y2cxk2

Topic tags

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