Neogene continental climate dynamics prior to the late Miocene uplift of the Northern Tien Shan (Kazakhstan)
Final Report Abstract
In light of the above results, the quasi-continuous, terrestrial Miocene succession of the Aktau Hills has been identified as a sensitive recorder of changes in atmospheric moisture supply as well as the effects of marine tongues of the Paratethys. This makes it a highly promising terrestrial archive for further paleoclimatic research in order to address scientific questions regarding the role of Central Asia in Miocene climate evolution. Because our reconnaissance work has proven successful, we have now launched a new, follow-up research project (Reconstruction of Miocene climate evolution in Central Asia using lacustrine successions in SE-Kazakhstan) together with E. Appel (Tübingen). The first goal of this project is to establish a well-calibrated chronostratigraphy for the Aktau succession in order to correlate it to the Geomagnetic Polarity Time Scale. The improved dating of the succession will then allow us to address the following major research questions: (1) How did terrestrial ecosystems and depositional facies respond to the retreating Paratethys and the uplift of the Tien Shan ranges and the Tarim Basin? (2) Was the depositional stacking of terrestrial sediments forced by orbitally induced climate change and how was the Mid-Miocene humidity in Central Asia related to the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum? (3) What was the regional climatic response to changes in the moisture supply related to intermittent marine ingressions in the Tarim Basin and the orogenic uplift of the Tibet plateau, the Tarim Basin and the Tien Shan?
Publications
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2012. Continental climate dynamics prior to uplift of the Northern Tien Shan – the Oligocene-Miocene succession of the Ili Basin, southeastern Kazakhstan. Geophysical Research Abstracts 14, EGU2012-7360
Weber, Y., Voigt, S., Pross, J., Voigt, T., Kley, J.
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2012. Continental climate dynamics prior to uplift of the Northern Tien Shan – the Oligocene-Miocene succession of the Ili Basin, southeastern Kazakhstan. International Conference of the Geologische Vereinigung and SEDIMENT, September 2012, Abstract Volume p. 283
Voigt, S., Weber, Y., Pross, J., Voigt, T., Kley, J.
