Nature 312, 359 - 361 (22 November 1984); doi:10.1038/312359a0

A model of estuarine circulation in the Pliocene Mediterranean based on new ostracod evidence

Dick van Harten

Geological Institute, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Prinsengracht 130, 1018 VZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands

The recent discovery of the psychrospheric ostracod Agrenocythere pliocenica (Seguenza) in Zanclean marls of eastern Crete¹ expands the reach of early Pliocene deep-oceanic circulation far into the eastern Mediterranean. Current models of Pliocene water-mass circulation, though allowing for the Atlantic psychrosphere to flow freely into the western basin, consider the eastern basin as being largely stagnant^2,3. I propose here a new model of estuarine circulation affecting both west and east Mediterranean. This circulation was associated with increased atmospheric humidity and driven by upwelling. The model is compatible with organic-rich sedimentation in parts of the eastern Mediterranean and does not imply an excessively deep or wide connection with the Atlantic.

References

1.	Peters, J. M., Troelstra, S. R. & van Harten, D. J. geol. Soc. Lond. (in the press).
2.	Benson, R. H. in The Mediterranean Sea: a Natural Sedimentation Laboratory (ed. Stanley, D. J.) 63−73 (Dowden, Stroudsburg, 1972).
3.	Cita, M. B. & Ryan, W. B. F. Init. Rep. DSDP 13, 1405−1415 (1973).
4.	Bruun, A. F. Mem. geol. Soc. Am. 67 (1), 641−672 (1957).
5.	Benson, R. H. & Sylvester-Bradley, P. C. Bull. Cent. Rech. Pau 5 suppl. 63−91 (1971).
6.	Benson, R. H. Smithson. Contr. Paleobiol. 12, 1−138 (1972).
7.	Lacombe, H. & Tchernia, P. in The Mediterranean Sea: a Natural Sedimentation Laboratory (ed. Stanley, D. J.) 25−36 (Dowden, Stroudsburg, 1972).
8.	Benson, R. H. Init. Rep. DSDP 42 (i) 777−787 (1978).
9.	Colalongo, M. L. & Pasini, G. Boll. Soc. Paleont. Ital. 19, 44−126 (1980).
10.	Carbonnel, G. & Ballesio, R. Docum. Lab. géol Lyon 85, 1−113 (1982).
11.	Cita, M. B. & Grignani, D. in Nature and Origin of Cretaceous Carbon-Rich Facies (eds Schlanger, S. O. & Cita, M. B.) 165−196 (Academic, New York, 1982).
12.	van Gorsel, J. T. & Troelstra, S. R. Géol. Méditerr. 7, 127−134 (1980).
13.	Bé, A. W. H. & Tolderlund, D. S. in Micropalaeontology of Oceans (eds Funnell, B. M. & Riedel, W. R.) 105−149 (Cambridge University Press, London, 1971).
14.	Suc, J.-P. & Zagwijn, W. D. Boreas 12, 153−166 (1983). | ISI |
15.	Suc, J.-P. Nature 307, 429−432 (1984). | ISI |
16.	Keigwin, Jr., L. D. & Thunell, R. C. Nature 282, 294−296 (1979). | ISI | ChemPort |
17.	Kidd, R. B., Cita, M. B. & Ryan, W. B. F. Init. Rep. DSDP 42 (1) 421−443 (1978).