[1] We present a 53-Myr stack (the “LR04” stack) of benthic δ18O records from 57 globally distributed sites aligned by an automated graphic correlation algorithm This is the first benthic δ18O stack composed of more than three records to extend beyond 850 ka, and we use its improved signal quality to identify 24 new marine isotope stages in the early Pliocene We also present a new LR04 age model for the Pliocene-Pleistocene derived from tuning the δ18O stack to a simple ice model based on 21 June insolation at 65°N Stacked sedimentation rates provide additional age model constraints to prevent overtuning Despite a conservative tuning strategy, the LR04 benthic stack exhibits significant coherency with insolation in the obliquity band throughout the entire 53 Myr and in the precession band for more than half of the record The LR04 stack contains significantly more variance in benthic δ18O than previously published stacks of the late Pleistocene as the result of higher-resolution records, a better alignment technique, and a greater percentage of records from the Atlantic Finally, the relative phases of the stack's 41- and 23-kyr components suggest that the precession component of δ18O from 27–16 Ma is primarily a deep-water temperature signal and that the phase of δ18O precession response changed suddenly at 16 Ma

/pdf/a-pliocene-pleistocene-stack-of-57-globally-distributed-n5iphe7mt2.pdf

A Pliocene-Pleistocene stack of 57 globally distributed benthic δ18O records

A new calibration curve for the conversion of radiocarbon ages to calibrated (cal) ages has been constructed and internationally ratified to replace IntCal98, which extended from 0-24 cal kyr BP (Before Present, 0 cal BP = AD 1950). The new calibration data set for terrestrial samples extends from 0-26 cal kyr BP, but with much higher resolution beyond 11.4 cal kyr BP than IntCal98. Dendrochronologically-dated tree-ring samples cover the period from 0-12.4 cal kyr BP. Beyond the end of the tree rings, data from marine records (corals and foraminifera) are converted to the atmospheric equivalent with a site-specific marine reservoir correction to provide terrestrial calibration from 12.4-26.0 cal kyr BP. A substantial enhancement relative to IntCal98 is the introduction of a coherent statistical approach based on a random walk model, which takes into account the uncertainty in both the calendar age and the 14C age to calculate the underlying calibration curve (Buck and Blackwell, this issue). The tree-ring data sets, sources of uncertainty, and regional offsets are discussed here. The marine data sets and calibration curve for marine samples from the surface mixed layer (Marine04) are discussed in brief, but details are presented in Hughen et al. (this issue a). We do not make a recommendation for calibration beyond 26 cal kyr BP at this time; however, potential calibration data sets are compared in another paper (van der Plicht et al., this issue).

/pdf/intcal04-terrestrial-radiocarbon-age-calibration-0-26-cal-4fi3x62yke.pdf

IntCal04 terrestrial radiocarbon age calibration, 0-26 cal kyr BP

Assembly, configuration, and break-up history of Rodinia: A synthesis

Basaltic volcanism 'samples' the Earth's mantle to great depths, because solid-state convection transports deep material into the (shallow) melting region. The isotopic and trace-element chemistry of these basalts shows that the mantle contains several isotopically and chemically distinct components, which reflect its global evolution. This evolution is characterized by upper-mantle depletion of many trace elements, possible replenishment from the deeper, less depleted mantle, and the recycling of oceanic crust and lithosphere, but of only small amounts of continental material.

Mantle geochemistry: the message from oceanic volcanism

http://people.rses.anu.edu.au/lambeck_k/pdf/230.pdf

Sea-level and deep water temperature changes derived from benthic foraminifera isotopic records

Many hitherto puzzling features of the isotope and trace-element geochemistry of the Earth's mantle and crust can be explained if Earth history is punctuated by episodes of enhanced exchange between the lower and upper mantle. Such episodes would replenish the upper mantle with trace elements, and also cause rapid growth of continental crust. This picture is consistent with recent geophysical models in which two-layer convection alternates with episodes of penetrative or whole-mantle convection.

Mantle plumes and episodic crustal growth

The temporal distribution of earthquakes in the Dead Sea Graben is studied through a 50,000-year paleoseismic record recovered in laminated sediments of the Late Pleistocene Lake Lisan (paleo-Dead Sea). The Lisan represents more than 10 times the 4000 years of historical earthquake records. It is the longest and most complete paleoseismic record along the Dead Sea Transform and possibly the longest continuous record on Earth. It includes unique exposures of seismite beds (earthquake-induced structures) associated with slip events on syndepositional faults. The seismites are layers consisting of mixtures of fragmented and pulverized laminae. The places where the seismites abut syndepositional faults are interpreted as evidence for their formation at the sediment-water interface during slip events on these faults. Thicker sediment accumulation above the seismites in the downthrown blocks indicates that a seismite formed at the water-sediment interface on both sides of the fault scarps. Modern analogs and the association with surface ruptures suggest that each seismite formed during a M L ≥5.5 earthquake. The 230 Th- 234 U ages of a columnar section, obtained by thermal ionization mass spectrometry, give a mean recurrence time of ∼1600 years of M L ≥5.5 earthquakes in the Dead Sea Graben. The earthquakes cluster in ∼10,000-year periods separated by quiet periods of similar length. This distribution implies that a long-term behavior of the Dead Sea Transform should be represented by a mean recurrence of at least 20,000 year record. This observation has ramifications for seismic hazard assessment based on shorter records.

Long-term earthquake clustering: A 50,000-year paleoseismic record in the Dead Sea Graben

Holocene climate variability and cultural evolution in the Near East from the Dead Sea sedimentary record

http://earthquakes.ou.edu/reches/Publications/Bartov_2002_lake_levels.pdf

Lake Levels and Sequence Stratigraphy of Lake Lisan, the Late Pleistocene Precursor of the Dead Sea

The lithosphere of the Arabian–Nubian shield was mainly formed during an interval of about 150 million years near the end of the Proterozoic aeon. The events recorded in the rocks of the shield indicate that an oceanic plateau, formed by the head of an upwelling mantle plume, was later overprinted with continent-like characteristics by plate convergence and its associated magmatism. Similar sequences of events are seen in the geological record from Archaean to recent times, suggesting that the transformation from plume head to continental lithosphere has been an important component of continent generation throughout Earth history.

Mordechai Stein

Papers

Mantle plumes and episodic crustal growth

Long-term earthquake clustering: A 50,000-year paleoseismic record in the Dead Sea Graben

Holocene climate variability and cultural evolution in the Near East from the Dead Sea sedimentary record

Lake Levels and Sequence Stratigraphy of Lake Lisan, the Late Pleistocene Precursor of the Dead Sea

From plume head to continental lithosphere in the Arabian–Nubian shield