A paleoclimate model for the North American Cretaceous (Cenomanian- Turonian) epicontinental sea

The Cretaceous geological record left by the North American epicontinental sea suggests that the climate of North America was considerably different from the present. The climate was warm and at least seasonally humid. Oxygen isotopic evidence from biogenic carbonate also suggests at least periodic episodes of increased runoff into the seaway and freshening of surface water. One likely cause of paleoclimate change is the latitudinal difference in Cretaceous land-mass distribution. This will affect land-sea air circulation, wind patterns and precipitation. The authors have examined the effects of cyclical insolation variation. Results show that, by intensifying insolation contrast between northern and southern hemispheres during northern hemisphere winter, precipitation intensified over North America, possibly caused by increased cyclonic activity. -from Authors