THE PALEOCENE CLIMATE

The Paleocene climate was, much like in the Cretaceous, tropical or subtropical,and the poles were
temperate and ice free with an average global temperature of roughly 24–25 °C (75–77 °F).For
comparison , the average global temperature for the period between 1951 and 1980 was 14 °C (57 °F).

Global deep water temperatures in the Paleocene likely ranged from 8–12 °C (46–54 °F), compared to 0–
3 °C (32–37 °F) in modern day.Based on the upper limit, average sea surface temperatures at 60°N and S
would have been the same as deep sea temperatures, at 30°N and S about 23 °C (73 °F), and at the
equator about 28 °C (82 °F), which is comparable to modern day. Until the mid-Miocene, deep sea and
surface water temperatures varied synchronously—as one dipped, so did the other—and, as such, there
were probably not very defined thermoclines—layers of water of different temperatures which allow for
a large difference in deep water and surface temperatures.

Multiple Choice

1. The temperature during the paleocene epoch ranged from _____ to _____?
A. 26 °C; 28 °C
B. 8 °C; 10 °C
C. 25 °C; 26 °C
D. 11 °C; 12 °C

2. The paleocene epoch saw the reemergence of the _____ due to the _____.
A. ferns; disappearance of dinosaurs
B. cacti; increase of the earth's globale average temperature
C. rodents; absence of natural predators
D. arachnids; changing of the global climate

3. During archaeological activities, this prehistoric shark was commonly found to be from the Paleocene
epoch. What is it?
A. Cladoselache
B. Acanthodia
C. Ptychodus
D. Otodus

4. Paleocene rock records are mainly found in what region of the world?
A. Africa
B. Eurasia
C. North America
D. South America

5. The Paleocene epoch is divided into three ages. This is based from their corresponding _____.
A. unique geological features
B. rock stages
C. fossils
D. state of the fauna and flora

6. The three ages in the Paleocene epoch are (in order):

A. Miocene, Paleocene, Pliocene
B. Paleocene, Eocene, Pleistocene
C. Eocene, Paleocene, Oligocene
D. Oligocene, Eocene, Paleocene

True or False

7. The ancestor of elephants, the Phosphaterium, weighs about 150 pounds.

8. Animals, particularly mammals, from the Paleocene epoch are mostly known from their teeth.

9. The bird Gastornis, the so-called "terror bird", evolved not in the regions of Euroasia but in Africa due
to migration.

10. Reptiles and dinosaurs were the primary targets of extinction during the period before the
Paleocene epoch.

Answers:
1. C.
2. A.
3. D.
4. C.
5. B.
6. D.
7. False
8. True
9. False
10. False