Paleolatitude.org 3.0: A calculator for paleoclimate and paleobiology studies based on a new global paleogeography model

Abstract

Paleogeography, and particularly the paleolatitude, provides key context in the interpretation of paleoclimatic and paleobiological data but these fields are typically studied by scientists in different disciplines. To facilitate communication between these disciplines, a decade ago the online Paleolatitude.org calculator was developed. This provided for any coordinate on stable tectonic plates a paleolatitude estimate for any chosen Phanerozoic time interval, including an uncertainty that includes paleogeographic uncertainty and age uncertainty of a sample/fossil. Here, we provide a major update to this tool. First, we include in the calculator the first global paleogeographic model, including GPlates reconstruction files, back to 320 Ma that also restores paleogeographic units that are now thrusted over each other in orogenic (mountain) belts. Second, we include a recent, more precise paleomagnetic reference frame with updated statistical procedures, and provide the first update of its underlying database. Third, we introduce a new online interface with an easy-to-use tool with a batch option, and data and graph export functions. Finally, we illustrate differences with previous reconstructions and show an application by calculating a paleolatitudinal biodiversity gradient for the late Jurassic in which we use a bootstrap approach to propagate paleolatitude and age uncertainty into the result.