High latitude Albian climate variability: Palynological evidence for long-term drying in a greenhouse world

• Published in: Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology Vol. 386; pp. 501 - 511
• Main Authors: Wagstaff, Barbara E., Gallagher, Stephen J., Norvick, Martin S., Cantrill, David J., Wallace, Malcolm W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 15-09-2013
• Subjects: Albian; Australia; Gippsland Basin; Palaeoclimate; Palynology; Australia, Victoria, Gippsland; Palynology; Gippsland Basin; Albian; Australia; Palaeoclimate
• ISSN: 0031-0182; 1872-616X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.06.018

Detailed “Quaternary-style” quantitative spore–pollen counts, with a pollen sum based on total non-angiosperm seed plants, from a southern high palaeolatitude (60–65°) terrestrial sequence in Gippsland, southeast Australia has revealed strong vegetation and climate variability during the Albian. This variability is more pronounced than previously suggested in global Early Cretaceous vegetation and climate reconstructions. The quantitative spore–pollen record shows drying throughout the Albian based on upward decreasing total ferns and variation in podocarp and total Alisporites/Vitreisporites pollen. This record suggests that although global climate during the Albian is considered to have been warm, stable and equable, regional factors such as water availability and continentality were the main drivers of this vegetation change.
•A southeast Australian Albian palynological record shows evidence of drying.•Drying drives a decline in ferns and variation in some gymnosperm taxa.•Global climate variability in the Albian cannot explain the reduction in moisture.•It is proposed that drying is caused by regional rather than global factors.•Change is due to an Albian sea level fall in Australia's Cretaceous inland seas.