Geochemical, sedimentological and paleontologic evidence from deep sea sedimentary sequences indicates that significant changes in the ocean climate and chemical system occurred from the late Paleocene to early Eocene. The early Eocene climate was characterized by elevated temperatures at high latitudes and in deep oceans, by diminished thermal gradients, and by decreased atmospheric circulation. Moreover, the mean isotopic composition of marine carbonate dropped by 3 part per mil. Climate models indicate that such decreases in planetary temperature gradient must have had profound effects on continental climates. Paleocene- Eocene climate change has been proposed as an important driving force in the evolution of continental plants and animals. However, verification of model results with empirical data is difficult because of the low precision of marine-terrestrial correlations and because of a general lack of quantitative terrestrial climate proxies. This study has two goals: 1) to correlate with greater precision Paleocene through early Eocene marine strata to continental sections from the Bighorn Basin, WY, and 2) to evaluate changes in mean annual temperature and humidity in continental regions. Large scale, synchronous perturbations in the carbon isotope composition of terrestrial carbon reservoirs (organic matter, soil carbonates, and tooth apatite) and marine carbonates will supply isochrons for correlation. Temperature and humidity will be determined through oxygen isotope analysis of soil carbonates, and teeth from terrestrial and aquatic mammals.
