REALISTIC GLOBAL PALEOBATHYMETRY FOR THE CENOMANIAN-TURONIAN (90 MA) WITH LARGE IGNEOUS PROVINCES

Current paleoclimate simulations are prepared with a bathtub like, flat, featureless and steep walled ocean bathymetry which is neither realistic nor suitable. Here, an enhanced version of realistic paleo-ocean bathymetry reconstruction for Cenomanian-Turonian (90 Ma) time in a 0.1°x0.1° resolution is presented for use in paleo-climate studies. Goswami et. al (2015) have developed the methodology to reconstruct a base version of paleo-ocean bathymetry using simple geophysical models (Plate Model Equation for oceanic lithosphere), published ages of the ocean floor (Müller et al. 2008), and modern world sediment thickness data (Divins 2003, Whittaker 2013) . This work focus on updating the base version of the paleobathymetry reconstruction using the Cenomanian-Turonian (90 Ma) case study.

The updates include addition of underwater large igneous provinces (LIPs) / underwater plateaus (Coffin 2006, Ernst and Buchan 2001), and seamounts as available form published resources data (Seamount Catalog, Seamounts Online, The Global Seamount Database). These additions of sea plateaus and seamounts would minimize the difference between the reconstructed paleo-ocean bathymetry and real bathymetry that once existed. Moreover, this work is going to attempt to reconstruct the network of fracture network and associated fabric related to mid oceanic ridges to enhance the ocean basin roughness to the realistic level.

Keywords: Creatceous, paleobathymetry, paleoceanography, reconstruction