Evidence of Cretaceous Glaciation and its Impact on Dinosaurs

[john-schneiderman@cox.net]

There is indirect evidence that a glaciation event existed during the 
late Aptian-early Cenomanian [approximately 100 MA].  Here in eastern 
Nebraska the event is recorded by a large-scale, unconformity-bounded 
sequence of the lower Woodbury Member of the Dakota Sandstone [aka 
"Muddy-Mowry Seaway" or "Muddy sandstone"]. An eustatic sea-level 
mechanism lowered worldwide sea-levels by more than 25 m and that this 
sea-level fall occurred in a rather short period of geologic time. A 
glacioeustatic component is most likely to account for the observed 
sea-level changes during the mid-Cretaceous “greenhouse” world. I'm not 
aware of the existence of large-scale continental ice sheets. But, a 
Southern Hemisphere polar ice sheet with limited extent and volume 
compared to “icehouse” continental ice sheets, and global alpine 
glaciers that were fed by wet climate cycles [a local condition which is 
well documented during Dakota sedimentation] could account for sea-level 
fluctuations that resulted in valley incision and subsequent filling.

Does anyone know of additional works on mid-Cretaceous glaciation and if 
so what sort of impact would be found on dinosaur diversity and/or 
range?

references:

Alley, N.F., and Frakes, L.A. 2003. First known Cretaceous Glaciation: 
Livingston Tillite Member of the Cadna-owie Formation, South Australia. 
Australian Journal of Earth Science. v. 50, p. 139-144.

Bornemann, Norris, Friedrich, Beckmann, Schouten, Sinninghe Damsté, 
Vogel, Hofmann and Wagner.2008. "Isotopic Evidence for Glaciation During 
the Cretaceous Supergreenhouse" Science Vol. 319 no. 5860 pp. 189-192

Gale, A.S., Hardenbol, J., Hathaway, B., Kennedy, W.J., Young, J.R., and 
Phansalker, V. 2002. Global correlation of Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous) 
sequences: Evidence for Milankovitch control on sea level. Geology. v. 
30, p. 291-294.

Haq, B.U., Hardenbol, J., and Vail, P.R. 1987. Chronology of Fluctuating 
Sea Levels since the Triassic. Science. V. 235, n. 4793, p. 1156-1167.

Immenhauser, A. 2005. High-rate sea-level change during the Mesozoic: 
New approaches to an old problem. Sedimentary Geology, Vol. 175, p. 
277-296.

Ludvigson, G.A., Gonzalez, L.A., Metzger, R.A., Witzke, B.J., Brenner, 
R.L., Murillo, A.P., White, T.S. 1998. Meteoric sphaerosiderite lines 
and their use for paleohydrology and paleoclimatology. Geology, v. 26, 
n. 11, p. 1039-1042.

Miller, K.G., Sugarman, P.J., Browning, J.B., Kominz, M.A., Hernandez, 
J.C., Olsson, R.K., Wright, J.D., Feigenson, M.D., and Van Sickel, W. 
2003. Late Cretaceous chronology of large, rapid sea-level changes: 
Glacioeustasy during the greenhouse world. Geology. v. 31, no. 7 (July), 
p. 585-588.

Sahagian, D., Pinous, O., Olferiev, A., and Zakharov, V. 1996. Eustatic 
Curve for the Middle Jurassic-Cretaceous Based on Russian Platform and 
Siberian Stratigraphy: Zonal Resolution. AAPG Bulletin. v. 80, no. 9. p. 
1433-1458

Stoll, H.M., and Schrag, D.P. 1996. Evidence for glacial control of 
rapid sea-level changes in the Early Cretaceous. Science. v. 272, p. 
1771-1774.