The Valanginian Weissert Event on the south Tethyan margin: A dynamic paleoceanographic evolution based on the study of calcareous nannofossils

A first paleoceanographic reconstruction of the Valanginian Weissert Event on the central Moroccan margin reveals dynamic changes in nannofossil communities linked to sea-level fluctuations and nutrient availability. The study, based on quantitative analysis of calcareous nannofossils from onshore and offshore successions, shows that a major sea-level fall triggered a collapse of nannofossil diversity at the event's onset, while subsequent recovery coincided with high surface-water fertility and stable carbon-isotope shifts. Nannoconid decline and recovery patterns further indicate sensitivity to sea-level changes. This work integrates local findings into a broader global paleoceanographic context.

Shmeit, M., Giraud, F., Jaillard, E., Reboulet, S., Masrour, M., Spangenberg, J. E., & El-Samrani, A. (2022). The Valanginian Weissert Event on the south Tethyan margin: A dynamic paleoceanographic evolution based on the study of calcareous nannofossils. Marine Micropaleontology, 175, 102134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marmicro.2022.102134