Paleoclimate analysis of the Early Miocene in the Kushuk locality (Turgai Depression) based on the Coexistence Approach method
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https://doi.org/10.32523/2616-6771-2025-150-1-171-184Keywords:
Lower Miocene, Turgai trough, paleoclimatic reconstruction, nearest modern analogues (NLR) methodAbstract
This article reconstructs the Early Miocene climate of the Turgay Trough in Central Asia, using the Coexistence Approach (CA) and paleofloristic data from Kushuk. Its main goal is to determine climatic parameters and ecosystem changes in the Early Miocene. Results indicate a warm-temperate climate with mild winters and sufficient rainfall, featuring a mean annual temperature of 14.2°C and mean annual precipitation of 898.5 mm. These conditions supported diverse forest ecosystems, including broadleaf and mixed woodlands. A comparison with the modern climate shows a strong contrast, suggesting increased continentality and reduced moisture availability. This evidence supports a gradual climatic cooling and drying during the Miocene, driven by global and regional factors such as tectonic uplift and oceanic currents.
The study underscores the climatic evolution of Central Asia and validates the CA method as an effective tool for paleoclimatic studies. Findings can be applied to climate modeling and assessing how shifts in temperature and precipitation influenced Neogene ecosystems. Planned research will examine the interplay of climatic and geological factors, focusing on how changes in precipitation patterns shaped habitat distribution and species composition. These data provide a basis for refining paleoclimatic models and reconstructing biosphere dynamics in the Neogene, thereby advancing our understanding of how climate influenced regional development and biodiversity.
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