Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Tabl e 3 . 4 .
Late Cenozoic tectonic and climatic events
50-45 Ma Separation of Australia from Antarctica; inception of Southern Ocean
Northward movement of Australia into dry subtropical latitudes
45 Ma Collision of Greater India with Asia
Progressive uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas
38-30 Ma Dropstones in Norwegian-Greenland Sea
Ice present in Greenland?
34-33 Ma Opening of Drake Passage between Antarctica and South America
Creation of circum-Antarctic Current
Major ice accumulation in Antarctica
Major global cooling
Severe desiccation in central Asia
6-5 Ma Miocene salinity crisis
Mediterranean salt desert
Incision of Nile canyon
Genetic isolation of Africa from Eurasia
Emergence of bipedal hominids
4-3 Ma Closure of the Indonesian Seaway
Diversion of cool ocean water towards East Africa
Desiccation in East Africa
Closure of the Panama Isthmus
2.7-2.5 Ma Rapid accumulation of ice over North America
Drying out of East Africa and the Sahara
First appearance of stone tool-making in East Africa
Enhanced aridity in central Australia
2.4-0.9 Ma High-frequency, low-amplitude 41 ka glacial-interglacial cycles
0.9-0 Ma
Low-frequency, high-amplitude 100 ka glacial-interglacial cycles
Figure 3.3. Cenozoic sedimentation in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans.
(After Williams,
2012
, constructed from data in Davies et al.,
1977
.)
