Terrestrial climatic data reflect variable and often conflicting responses to the
global cooling event at the Eocene-Oligocene transition (ca. 34 Ma). Stable isotopic
compositions of the tooth enamel of large, water-dependent, herbivorous terrestrial
mammals are investigated here to better understand the European continental climate
during the late Eocene-early Oligocene. High delta O-18(PO4) and delta C-13 values
reflect a semiarid climate and ecosystem in the late Eocene. In the west-southwest
region of Europe, these conditions prevailed until at least 33 Ma, after which it
became more humid. A similar change was recorded north of the Alpine thrust, but it
occurred 2 m.y. earlier. The north and west-southwest regions show a significant offset
in delta O-18(PO4) composition between 35 and 31 Ma, indicating the influence of different
air trajectories with different moisture sources (Atlantic versus Tethys). This also
marks the presence of an orographic height in central Europe from the latest Eocene.
After 31 Ma, a large drop in delta O-18(PO4) is registered, explained by altitude-induced
fractionation on meteoric water isotopic composition. The related paleoaltitude change
is estimated to be 1200 m, and the uplift could have taken place along the Alpine-Dinaridic
orogenic system.