Deep-sea hiatuses track the vigor of Cenozoic ocean bottom currents

Abstract The deep-sea stratigraphic record is full of gaps. These hiatuses track changes in ocean circulation and chemistry, but determining their timing causes has been limited by sparse data incomplete knowledge gateway evolution earlier studies. We combine a significantly expanded, age-calibrated database with global tectonic paleo–water depth model to investigate the distribution >400 Cenozoic longer than ~0.2 m.y. find that only small number are due carbonate dissolution. majority were, implication, caused mechanical erosion redistribution sediments bottom currents into regions increased sedimentation such as contourite drifts. link peaks regional intensification deep-water formation. Widespread South Atlantic, Pacific, southern Indian oceans between ca. 34 Ma 30 attributed coeval widening deepening Drake Passage opening deep Tasman Gateway. A peak Atlantic early Miocene linked initiation proto–Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation driven complete progressive closure Tethys seaway. long-term 30% decline hiatus frequency since 14 synchronous post–Miocene Climate Optimum cooling, suggesting slowing abyssal circulation. Our synthesis could be used fate ground-truth deep-ocean models.