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Questions and Answers
What do fossil records and sedimentary rocks contain?
Why do heavy isotopes change with temperature?
What is the result of continental drift?
What happens to sea levels when the climate cools?
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What is the process called when continents collide?
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What happens to the width of a ridge as it cools?
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What is the result of the movement of tectonic plates?
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What would happen to sea levels if all ice caps were to melt?
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What was the approximate sea level at the end of the Time of the Dinosaurs compared to today?
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What was a contributing factor to the warmer climates during the time of the dinosaurs?
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What was an effect of the flooding of coastal areas during the time of the dinosaurs?
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What occurs when continents collide?
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What happened to the climate towards the end of the Time of the Dinosaurs?
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Why did warm water take up more space during the time of the dinosaurs?
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What is the primary reason for the difference in width between fast-spreading and slow-spreading mid-ocean ridges?
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What was a result of the decrease in sea level towards the end of the Time of the Dinosaurs?
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What would be the approximate change in sea level if all ice sheets were to melt?
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What is the process that reduces the effect of adding a large volume of water to the sea floor?
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What occurs when rocks cool completely at mid-ocean ridges?
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What is the estimated rise in sea level due to thermal expansion and contraction of water?
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Why is it unclear whether the rates of sea-floor spreading were faster more than 100 Mya?
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What would be the approximate sea level if all ice sheets melted and the climate was similar to that of the Time of the Dinosaurs?
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Study Notes
Isotopes and Fossil Records
- Fossil records contain FscopSs, which are familiar to animals using isotopes to build drips and shallower rates to change with temperature.
- This helps to reconstruct past climate changes by analyzing the isotopes' ratings.
- Temple's width during time was several wommer, and the still vertab rates went down from place to place.
Climate Change and Sea Levels
- Carbon dioxide levels won't stay the same and will change the climate, which affects sea levels.
- During the time of the dinosaurs, the sea level was higher due to high temperatures.
- Even a 1% change in sea levels would contribute to the sea levels rising, which affected the climate.
Continental Movement and Volcanic Activity
- Pangea, a supercontinent, broke apart due to volcanic activity, which led to the formation of new oceans.
- This volcanic activity caused an increase in global temperatures, contributing to climate change.
- The breaking apart of Pangea also led to the formation of different continents, which in turn affected sea levels.
Mid-Ocean Ridges and Sea Floor Spreading
- Mid-ocean ridges are areas where new oceanic crust is being created due to volcanic activity.
- This process leads to the expansion of the ocean floor and the movement of continents.
- The ocean floor spreading is a slow process that has been occurring over millions of years.
Sea Level Changes and Ice Ages
- Changes in sea levels are due to the movement of continents and the changing volume of water in the oceans.
- During ice ages, sea levels were lower due to the ice caps locking away water, and when the ice melted, sea levels rose.
- Changes in sea levels have been occurring over millions of years, affecting the Earth's climate.
Continental Collisions and Sea Level
- Continent-continent collisions pile continents on top of each other, creating larger ocean basins and causing sea level to drop.
- During the time of Pangaea, sea level would have dropped due to continental collisions.
- Splitting the continents apart would have kept sea level higher than it is today.
Mid-Ocean Ridges and Sea Level
- Mid-ocean ridges at divergent boundaries are tall due to heating from below, causing them to expand.
- The crests of the ridges occur 2500 m below sea level and slope down away from the crest as the rock cools.
- The rocks cool completely after ~60 Myr and level out at a depth of ~5500 m below sea level.
- Fast-spreading ridges are wider than slow-spreading ridges due to the rate of cooling.
- When rates of spreading are higher, more water is displaced by the ridges than when rates are slower.
Climatic Factors and Sea Level
- If all the ice sheets melted today, sea level would rise almost 70 m.
- Ice sheets were not present during the Time of the Dinosaurs, therefore sea level was almost 70 m higher.
- Warm water occupies more space than cool water, resulting in a 7m higher sea level than today (roughly 1 m/ 1°C).
Other Adjustments to Sea Level
- Isostasy reduces the effect of adding a large volume of water by ~30%.
- Variations in the shape/gradient of the world's continental margins also affect sea level.
Cretaceous Sea Levels
- Current estimates indicate that towards the end of the Time of the Dinosaurs, sea levels were ~125 m higher than today.
- However, the reasons are not fully understood.
Summary
- Climates were warmer during the time of the dinosaurs.
- Fast spreading resulted in more volcanism.
- Giant, gassy dinosaurs existed.
- Sea levels were higher due to warmer climates, melting of ice sheets, and thermal expansion of water.
- Faster rates of spreading ripped continents apart, reducing the size of ocean basins.
- Mid-ocean ridges took up more space.
- Flooding of coastal areas had a moderating effect on climate.
- Decreased volcanism on the sea floor and a drop in sea level caused increased seasonality and a greater temperature gradient between the equator and poles.
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Description
Learn how isotopes are used in fossil dating to determine climate changes and temperatures. Understand how animals use isotopes to build their shells and how these isotopes can tell us about the past.
