A Transient Rise in Tropical Sea Surface Temperature During the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) has been attributed to a rapid rise in greenhouse gas levels. If so, warming should have occurred at all latitudes, although amplified toward the poles. Existing records reveal an increase in high-latitude sea surface temperatures (SSTs) (8° to 10°C) and i...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science
Main Authors: Zachos, James C., Wara, Michael W., Bohaty, Steven, Delaney, Margaret L., Petrizzo, Maria Rose, Brill, Amanda, Bralower, Timothy J., Premoli-Silva, Isabella
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2003
Subjects:
Pacific
Planktonic foraminifera
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1090110
https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1090110
Description
Summary:The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) has been attributed to a rapid rise in greenhouse gas levels. If so, warming should have occurred at all latitudes, although amplified toward the poles. Existing records reveal an increase in high-latitude sea surface temperatures (SSTs) (8° to 10°C) and in bottom water temperatures (4° to 5°C). To date, however, the character of the tropical SST response during this event remains unconstrained. Here we address this deficiency by using paired oxygen isotope and minor element (magnesium/calcium) ratios of planktonic foraminifera from a tropical Pacific core to estimate changes in SST. Using mixed-layer foraminifera, we found that the combined proxies imply a 4° to 5°C rise in Pacific SST during the PETM. These results would necessitate a rise in atmospheric pCO 2 to levels three to four times as high as those estimated for the late Paleocene.

Similar Items