Print this pageClimate Modelling - a Tool for the Assessment of the Paleo-Distribution of Source and Reservoir Rocks of Carboniferous and Permian times
Our climate modelling approach is based on new ideas concerning the formation of the Pangea supercontinent. The new plate tectonic concept is supported by published paleo-magnetic data.
Six Permocarboniferous time slices (340, 320, 300, 290, 270, 255 Ma) have been selected for our climate simulation project as they represent important climatic and tectonic changes of the Late Paleozoic. The binary maps we used for modelling have a resolution of 2.8°x2.8° (T42), suitable for high-resolution paleo-climate simulations, using the PLASIM model of the Meteorological Institute of Hamburg University (Germany). Changes in CO2 concentrations of the paleo-atmosphere and paleo-insolation values are the climatic drivers of our simulation study and have been estimated using published methods.
For the purpose of a geological validation, quantitative model output was transformed into qualitative parameters in order to be able to compare digital data with the global distribution of geologic paleo-climate indicators. We converted the model output of surface temperatures and precipitation into climate zones and then compared them with the distribution of published occurrences of paleo-climatic indicators like eolian sands, tillites, reefs, evaporites, phosphorites, cherts, coals and oil source rocks. Examples of the Permian Pangea show a very good agreement between model results and indicator sediments. From the simulations we are able to identify climatic processes which lead to the deposition of hydrocarbon source and reservoir rocks.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90090©2009 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, Denver, Colorado, June 7-10, 2009