The TEX86 Paleotemperature Proxy

About this book

The TEX₈₆ paleothermometer is based upon the distribution of archaeal membrane lipids ('GDGTs') in marine sediments. GDGTs are ubiquitous, abundant and relatively resistant to degradation; as such, the TEX₈₆ paleothermometer has been used to reconstruct sea surface temperature (SST) during the Cenozoic and early Mesozoic. The authors review the principles of the TEX₈₆ proxy and developments made over the last two decades. They also discuss its application as a paleotemperature proxy and explore existing challenges and limitations.

Contents

1. Introduction
2. History and systematics
3. Extraction and analysis of GDGTs
4. Ecophysiology and habitat of thaumarchaeota
5. Preservation of GDGTs within the sedimentary record
6. Constraints on the application of TEX₈₆
7. Calibration of TEX₈₆ to SST
8. Example applications of TEX₈₆
9. Future developments in TEX₈₆ paleothermometry

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