Variable Early Eocene continental hydroclimate in Central Europe? 

Research at the UNESCO World Heritage Site Messel Pit Fossil Site (Germany) reveals that Early to Middle Eocene continental hydroclimate in Central Europe was more variable than previously assumed, with abrupt temperature shifts coinciding with potential changes in moisture conditions. Using highly-resolved biomarker-based paleoclimate data from the site's finely laminated lake sediments, scientists reconstructed mean annual air temperatures ranging from 14 to 22°C over ~640,000 years (~48.0-47.4 Ma). Short-term temperature excursions of 4-5°C were identified, alongside significant variations in hydrogen and carbon isotope values of leaf waxes, suggesting dynamic hydroclimatic conditions. This study provides the first detailed quantification of long-term Eocene cooling in a terrestrial Central European archive, offering critical insights for climate modeling and understanding past climate variability.

Schmitt, C., Vasiliev, I., Martínez-García, A., & Mulch, A. (2022). Variable Early Eocene continental hydroclimate in Central Europe?  https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu22-1701