Francien Peterse

Ocean circulation changes rather than global warming drove temperature trends across the Miocene Climatic Optimum

Early-to-Middle Miocene [23 to 13.8 million years ago (Ma)] climates were ∼6° to 9°C warmer than today. Around 16.9 Ma, benthic foraminiferal oxygen isotope (δ 18 O) records suggest pronounced warming, known as the Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO) onset. However, explaining this pu...