Open access
Oct 2026
Ocean circulation changes rather than global warming drove temperature trends across the Miocene Climatic Optimum
Early-to-Middle Miocene [23 to 13.8 million years ago (Ma)] climates were ∼6° to 9°C warmer than today. Around 16.9 Ma, benthic foraminiferal oxygen isotope (δ18O) records suggest pronounced warming, known as the Miocene Climatic Optimum (MCO) onset. However, explaining this putative global warming with carbon dioxide...
E. Wubben, Xiao-Qing Liu, T. Veenstra et al.
· Science Advances · 0 citations