Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition
Geological and geochemical evidence1, 2, 3 indicates that the Antarctic ice sheet formed during the Eocene–Oligocene transition4, 33.5–34.0 million years ago. Modelling studies5, 6 suggest that such ice-sheet formation might have been triggered when atmospheric carbon dioxide levels () fell below a...
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ftunivcardiff:oai:https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk:10093 2023-05-15T13:39:53+02:00 Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition Pearson, Paul Nicholas Foster, Gavin L. Wade, Bridget S. 2009 https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/10093/ https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08447 unknown Nature Publishing Group Pearson, Paul Nicholas https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/view/cardiffauthors/A0179150.html orcid:0000-0003-4628-9818 orcid:0000-0003-4628-9818, Foster, Gavin L. and Wade, Bridget S. https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/view/cardiffauthors/A002393S.html 2009. Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition. Nature 461 (7267) , pp. 1110-1113. 10.1038/nature08447 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08447 doi:10.1038/nature08447 GC Oceanography QE Geology Article PeerReviewed 2009 ftunivcardiff https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08447 2022-10-20T22:34:13Z Geological and geochemical evidence1, 2, 3 indicates that the Antarctic ice sheet formed during the Eocene–Oligocene transition4, 33.5–34.0 million years ago. Modelling studies5, 6 suggest that such ice-sheet formation might have been triggered when atmospheric carbon dioxide levels () fell below a critical threshold of 750 p.p.m.v., but the timing and magnitude of relative to the evolution of the ice sheet has remained unclear. Here we use the boron isotope pH proxy7, 8 on exceptionally well-preserved carbonate microfossils from a recently discovered geological section in Tanzania9, 10 to estimate before, during and after the climate transition. Our data suggest that a reduction in occurred before the main phase of ice growth, followed by a sharp recovery to pre-transition values and then a more gradual decline. During maximum ice-sheet growth, was between 450 and 1,500 p.p.m.v., with a central estimate of 760 p.p.m.v. The ice cap survived the period of recovery, although possibly with some reduction in its volume, implying (as models predict11) a nonlinear response to climate forcing during melting. Overall, our results confirm the central role of declining in the development of the Antarctic ice sheet (in broad agreement with carbon cycle modelling12) and help to constrain mechanisms and feedbacks associated with the Earth's biggest climate switch of the past 65 Myr. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Ice cap Ice Sheet Cardiff University: ORCA (Online Research @ Cardiff) Antarctic The Antarctic Nature 461 7267 1110 1113 |
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Cardiff University: ORCA (Online Research @ Cardiff) |
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unknown |
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GC Oceanography QE Geology |
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GC Oceanography QE Geology Pearson, Paul Nicholas Foster, Gavin L. Wade, Bridget S. Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition |
topic_facet |
GC Oceanography QE Geology |
description |
Geological and geochemical evidence1, 2, 3 indicates that the Antarctic ice sheet formed during the Eocene–Oligocene transition4, 33.5–34.0 million years ago. Modelling studies5, 6 suggest that such ice-sheet formation might have been triggered when atmospheric carbon dioxide levels () fell below a critical threshold of 750 p.p.m.v., but the timing and magnitude of relative to the evolution of the ice sheet has remained unclear. Here we use the boron isotope pH proxy7, 8 on exceptionally well-preserved carbonate microfossils from a recently discovered geological section in Tanzania9, 10 to estimate before, during and after the climate transition. Our data suggest that a reduction in occurred before the main phase of ice growth, followed by a sharp recovery to pre-transition values and then a more gradual decline. During maximum ice-sheet growth, was between 450 and 1,500 p.p.m.v., with a central estimate of 760 p.p.m.v. The ice cap survived the period of recovery, although possibly with some reduction in its volume, implying (as models predict11) a nonlinear response to climate forcing during melting. Overall, our results confirm the central role of declining in the development of the Antarctic ice sheet (in broad agreement with carbon cycle modelling12) and help to constrain mechanisms and feedbacks associated with the Earth's biggest climate switch of the past 65 Myr. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Pearson, Paul Nicholas Foster, Gavin L. Wade, Bridget S. |
author_facet |
Pearson, Paul Nicholas Foster, Gavin L. Wade, Bridget S. |
author_sort |
Pearson, Paul Nicholas |
title |
Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition |
title_short |
Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition |
title_full |
Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition |
title_fullStr |
Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition |
title_full_unstemmed |
Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition |
title_sort |
atmospheric carbon dioxide through the eocene-oligocene climate transition |
publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/10093/ https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08447 |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Ice cap Ice Sheet |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Ice cap Ice Sheet |
op_relation |
Pearson, Paul Nicholas https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/view/cardiffauthors/A0179150.html orcid:0000-0003-4628-9818 orcid:0000-0003-4628-9818, Foster, Gavin L. and Wade, Bridget S. https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/view/cardiffauthors/A002393S.html 2009. Atmospheric carbon dioxide through the Eocene-Oligocene climate transition. Nature 461 (7267) , pp. 1110-1113. 10.1038/nature08447 https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08447 doi:10.1038/nature08447 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08447 |
container_title |
Nature |
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461 |
container_issue |
7267 |
container_start_page |
1110 |
op_container_end_page |
1113 |
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1766125824636878848 |