--> ABSTRACT: The Paleoclimate of the Kazanian (Early Late Permian) World, by G. T. Moore, C. J. Peoples; #91003 (1990).

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ABSTRACT: The Paleoclimate of the Kazanian (Early Late Permian) World

G. T. Moore, C. J. Peoples

The Kazanian (early Late Permian, 258-253 m.y.) marked the onset of a unique interval in the Phanerozoic, distinguished by a classic end-member case of continental assembly, the megacontinent Pangaea. Compilation of biostratigraphic and lithofacies data indicate a warm, extensively arid world, largely ice free, and characterized by the onset of atmospheric conditions that were exceedingly stressful to the biosphere, the worst of the eon.

Using Chevron's version of the Community Climate model, we report here on two Kazanian paleoclimate seasonal simulations, one using 200 ppm CO2 and the other with 2000 ppm CO2. We consider the knowledge of plate assembly back to the Permian accurate enough to allow employment of a seasonal model. Simulation of a warmer Earth with an elevated greenhouse effect (modeled as CO2) fits the observed geology and isotope signals.

The increased CO2 experiment warmed the entire planet with the greatest increases north of 50° latitude and least changes in the tropics. The warming caused the poleward retreat of sea ice in both hemispheres. Precipitation and evaporation increased, but runoff was confined to areas of very intense rainfall. Monsoons are limited to the southern hemisphere, associated with the western Tethys sea and the eastern equatorial Panthalassa ocean. Extreme southeastern Pangaea (northern Australia) was a focus of precipitation throughout the year. Precipitation occurred in the higher latitudes (50-55°) on the western coasts of Pangaea where storm tracks make landfall. High evaporation rates characterized the restricted Permian (U.S.), Zechstein, and Perm (Soviet Union) basi s, a time of evaporite deposition. Interior Pangaea at middle to high latitudes endured frigid winters (-40°C) and torrid summers (60°C).

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #91003©1990 AAPG Annual Convention, San Francisco, California, June 3-6, 1990