The Palaeocene–Eocene carbon isotope excursion: constraints from individual shell planktonic foraminifer records
The Palaeocene–Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) is characterized by a global negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE) and widespread dissolution of seafloor carbonate sediments. The latter feature supports the hypothesis that the PETM and CIE were caused by the rapid release of a large mass (greater tha...
Published in: | Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences |
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crroyalsociety:10.1098/rsta.2007.2045 2024-09-15T18:18:42+00:00 The Palaeocene–Eocene carbon isotope excursion: constraints from individual shell planktonic foraminifer records Zachos, James C Bohaty, Steven M John, Cedric M McCarren, Heather Kelly, Daniel C Nielsen, Tina 2007 http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2007.2045 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.2007.2045 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsta.2007.2045 en eng The Royal Society https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences volume 365, issue 1856, page 1829-1842 ISSN 1364-503X 1471-2962 journal-article 2007 crroyalsociety https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2007.2045 2024-08-12T04:27:46Z The Palaeocene–Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) is characterized by a global negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE) and widespread dissolution of seafloor carbonate sediments. The latter feature supports the hypothesis that the PETM and CIE were caused by the rapid release of a large mass (greater than 2000 Gt C) of 12 C-enriched carbon. The source of this carbon, however, remains a mystery. Possible sources include volcanically driven thermal combustion of organic-rich sediment, dissociation of seafloor methane hydrates and desiccation and oxidation of soil/sediment organics. A key constraint on the source(s) is the rate at which the carbon was released. Fast rates would be consistent with a catastrophic event, e.g. massive methane hydrate dissociation, whereas slower rates might implicate other processes. The PETM carbon flux is currently constrained by high-resolution marine and terrestrial records of the CIE. In pelagic bulk carbonate records, the onset of the CIE is often expressed as a single- or multiple-step excursion extending over 10 4 years. Individual planktonic shell records, in contrast, always show a single-step CIE, with either pre-excursion or excursion isotope values, but no transition values. Benthic foraminifera records, which are less complete owing to extinction and diminutive assemblages, show a delayed excursion. Here, we compile and evaluate the individual planktonic shell isotope data from several localities. We find that the most expanded records consistently show a bimodal isotope distribution pattern regardless of location, water depth or depositional facies. This suggests one of several possibilities: (i) the isotopic composition of the surface ocean/atmosphere declined in a geologic instant (<500 yr), (ii) that during the onset of the CIE, most shells of mixed-layer planktonic foraminifera were dissolved, or (iii) the abundances or shell production of these species temporarily declined, possibly due to initial pH changes. Article in Journal/Newspaper Methane hydrate Planktonic foraminifera The Royal Society Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences 365 1856 1829 1842 |
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English |
description |
The Palaeocene–Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) is characterized by a global negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE) and widespread dissolution of seafloor carbonate sediments. The latter feature supports the hypothesis that the PETM and CIE were caused by the rapid release of a large mass (greater than 2000 Gt C) of 12 C-enriched carbon. The source of this carbon, however, remains a mystery. Possible sources include volcanically driven thermal combustion of organic-rich sediment, dissociation of seafloor methane hydrates and desiccation and oxidation of soil/sediment organics. A key constraint on the source(s) is the rate at which the carbon was released. Fast rates would be consistent with a catastrophic event, e.g. massive methane hydrate dissociation, whereas slower rates might implicate other processes. The PETM carbon flux is currently constrained by high-resolution marine and terrestrial records of the CIE. In pelagic bulk carbonate records, the onset of the CIE is often expressed as a single- or multiple-step excursion extending over 10 4 years. Individual planktonic shell records, in contrast, always show a single-step CIE, with either pre-excursion or excursion isotope values, but no transition values. Benthic foraminifera records, which are less complete owing to extinction and diminutive assemblages, show a delayed excursion. Here, we compile and evaluate the individual planktonic shell isotope data from several localities. We find that the most expanded records consistently show a bimodal isotope distribution pattern regardless of location, water depth or depositional facies. This suggests one of several possibilities: (i) the isotopic composition of the surface ocean/atmosphere declined in a geologic instant (<500 yr), (ii) that during the onset of the CIE, most shells of mixed-layer planktonic foraminifera were dissolved, or (iii) the abundances or shell production of these species temporarily declined, possibly due to initial pH changes. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Zachos, James C Bohaty, Steven M John, Cedric M McCarren, Heather Kelly, Daniel C Nielsen, Tina |
spellingShingle |
Zachos, James C Bohaty, Steven M John, Cedric M McCarren, Heather Kelly, Daniel C Nielsen, Tina The Palaeocene–Eocene carbon isotope excursion: constraints from individual shell planktonic foraminifer records |
author_facet |
Zachos, James C Bohaty, Steven M John, Cedric M McCarren, Heather Kelly, Daniel C Nielsen, Tina |
author_sort |
Zachos, James C |
title |
The Palaeocene–Eocene carbon isotope excursion: constraints from individual shell planktonic foraminifer records |
title_short |
The Palaeocene–Eocene carbon isotope excursion: constraints from individual shell planktonic foraminifer records |
title_full |
The Palaeocene–Eocene carbon isotope excursion: constraints from individual shell planktonic foraminifer records |
title_fullStr |
The Palaeocene–Eocene carbon isotope excursion: constraints from individual shell planktonic foraminifer records |
title_full_unstemmed |
The Palaeocene–Eocene carbon isotope excursion: constraints from individual shell planktonic foraminifer records |
title_sort |
palaeocene–eocene carbon isotope excursion: constraints from individual shell planktonic foraminifer records |
publisher |
The Royal Society |
publishDate |
2007 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2007.2045 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsta.2007.2045 https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full-xml/10.1098/rsta.2007.2045 |
genre |
Methane hydrate Planktonic foraminifera |
genre_facet |
Methane hydrate Planktonic foraminifera |
op_source |
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences volume 365, issue 1856, page 1829-1842 ISSN 1364-503X 1471-2962 |
op_rights |
https://royalsociety.org/journals/ethics-policies/data-sharing-mining/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2007.2045 |
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Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences |
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365 |
container_issue |
1856 |
container_start_page |
1829 |
op_container_end_page |
1842 |
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1810456783720808448 |