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Eivind Olavson Straume
The influence of paleogeography on Cenozoic ocean circulation and climate
Paleogeography, influenced by plate tectonics, mantle convection, volcanism, erosion, and sedimentation, cause large-scale ocean circulation and climate changes on geological timescales. Some of the most important paleogeographic changes are linked to opening and closing of key oceanic gateways connecting the world’s major oceanic basins. During the Cenozoic (66 – 0 Ma), several gateways opened and closed (e.g. the Atlantic – Arctic gateways, Tethys Seaway, West Siberian Seaway, and the Southern Ocean gateways), which played an important role in the complex transition from greenhouse to icehouse climate during this time interval. This presentation will mainly focus on the role of paleogeography of oceanic gateways and their impact on ocean circulation, climate and biogeography. I will present a new global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for the Cenozoic time, with updated regional reconstructions for the closure of the Tethys Seaway, West Siberian Seaway, and opening of the Atlantic – Arctic gateways. These regions were influenced by deep earth processes such as mantle convection and played a key role in shaping the modern global ocean circulation. I will present Earth system model experiments showing the simulated impact on ocean circulation and climate. Ultimately linking deep and solid earth changes, to changes in ocean circulation, climate, and biogeographic dispersals.
Eivind Olavson Straume – Biography (Using ChatGPT)
Dr. Eivind Olavson Straume is a Norwegian geoscientist specializing in paleoclimate, plate tectonics, and mantle dynamics. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, where he investigates the interactions between tectonics, oceanic gateways, and climate evolution over geological time scales.
Straume earned his Ph.D. from the University of Oslo (UiO) in 2020, defending his dissertation Paleoclimate in the Cenozoic Time: Quantifying the Role of North Atlantic Plate Tectonics and Mantle Processes. His research focuses on reconstructing past oceanic and atmospheric conditions using numerical modeling and geological data, particularly emphasizing the impact of plate tectonics on ocean circulation and climate variability.
He has contributed significantly to global paleobathymetric reconstructions, developing methodologies for estimating sediment thickness and modeling oceanic gateways’ influence on climate transitions. His work has been published in high-impact journals such as Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Earth and Planetary Science Letters, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Beyond his academic research, Straume is an advocate for open science and data visualization. He co-founded s-Ink.org, an initiative aimed at making geoscience graphics more accessible. He has also participated in numerous scientific outreach events, sharing insights on plate tectonics, climate change, and Earth’s dynamic systems.
Currently based in Bergen, Norway, Dr. Straume continues his research at NORCE, collaborating with leading geoscientists to refine models of Earth’s climatic and geological evolution.
Main Collaborators and Ph.D. Supervisors of Eivind Olavson Straume
Ph.D. Supervisors (University of Oslo, CEED/Department of Geosciences)
Prof. Carmen Gaina (CEED, UiO) – Expert in plate tectonics and geodynamics.
Prof. Joseph Henry Lacasce (Department of Geosciences, UiO) – Specialist in ocean dynamics and climate modeling.
Prof. Kerim Hestnes Nisancioglu (Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, UiB) – Focuses on paleoclimate and ocean circulation.
Main Collaborators
Throughout his career, Dr. Straume has worked closely with several leading geoscientists, including:
Grace Shephard (UiO, CEED) – Collaborated on geodynamic and tectonic reconstructions.
Fabio Crameri (UiO, CEED) – Worked on scientific visualization and geoscience graphics.
Sergei Medvedev (UiO, CEED) – Contributed to paleobathymetry and geodynamic modeling.
Aleksi Nummelin (UiB) – Collaborated on climate modeling and ocean dynamics.
Bernhard Steinberger (GFZ Potsdam) – Worked on mantle convection and dynamic topography.
Claudio Faccenna (Roma Tre University) – Studied the influence of mantle dynamics on paleogeography.
Zhongshi Zhang (NORCE, UiB) – Focused on paleoclimate simulations.
Carmen Gaina (UiO) – Ongoing collaboration on Arctic and Atlantic paleogeography.
Agatha M. de Boer (Stockholm University) – Worked on ocean circulation and climate reconstruction.
Stephanie Werner (UiO, CEED) – Collaborated on tectonics and mantle dynamics.
His work also involves contributions from various institutions, including the Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research (UiB), NORCE, and international geoscience organizations.