Thermogenic methane release as a cause for the long duration of the PETM

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
• Main Authors: Frieling, Joost, Svensen, Henrik H., Planke, Sverre, Cramwinckel, Margot J., Selnes, Haavard, Sluijs, Appy
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: National Academy of Sciences 2016
• Subjects: Physical Sciences; North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5087067/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27790990; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1603348113

The Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was a period of global warming associated with rapid massive 13C-depleted carbon input, often mentioned as a paleoanalog for future climate change and associated feedbacks. One hypothesized carbon source is intrusive volcanism in the North Atlantic region, but rigid dating lacks. We date thermogenic methane release from a hydrothermal vent and find that it postdates the onset of the PETM but correlates to a period of additional carbon injection within the PETM. This study provides evidence of carbon release during the PETM from a reservoir (i.e., organic matter in sedimentary rocks) and implies that carbon release from the vent systems should be included in all future considerations regarding PETM carbon cycling.