A large and mostly volcanic carbon source drove the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (NERC grant NE/H017356/1)
Global warming during the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, ~56 Ma) is commonly interpreted as being driven by massive destabilization of carbon from surficial sedimentary reservoirs. If correct, this has important implications for the amplification of future fossil fuel emissions via carbon-climate feedbacks. In our study we provided new paired records of boron and carbon isotope changes in the ocean that questions this long-held interpretation. Our data are implemented in an Earth system model to reconstruct the unfolding carbon cycle dynamics across the event. Strong evidence for a larger (>10,000 PgC) and on average isotopically heavier (> -17‰) carbon source leads us to identify volcanism associated with the North Atlantic Igneous Province as the main driver of the PETM. We also find that although organic carbon feedbacks with climate played a more minor role in driving the event than previously thought, organic matter burial was important in ultimately sequestering this carbon and driving the recovery of the system. Data presented in this data set comprise geochemical elemental, as well as boron, carbon and oxygen isotopic data from surface dwelling foraminifera Morozovella Subbotina. Alongside the boron isotopic data we also provide reconstructed surface water pH with corresponding uncertainties for our preferred pH reconstruction.
dataset
https://www.bgs.ac.uk/services/ngdc/accessions/index.html?#item77069
function: download
https://doi.org/10.1038/nature23646
function: information
http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13607191
eng
Our dataset comprises the geological time span surrounding the PETM, with first data dating back to ~56.25 Ma and the last data points dating back to ~55.3 Ma. The key onset of this event occurred circa 55.8 Ma ago. This work is still under review at the journal Nature, for which reason we ask to embargo the data until our manuscript is accepted as premature addition of our data to the respective database may lead to rejection of our manuscript.
geoscientificInformation
publication
2008-06-01
Sea water
Oceans
Carbon capture and storage
pH value
Palaeoclimatology
Carbon cycle
Boron isotopes
Climatology
Acidification
revision
2011
NERC_DDC
-8.8200
-8.8000
47.4300
47.4200
revision
2010
BAY OF BISCAY [id=2001371]
2010-11-01
2015-01-05
creation
2017-06-29
notApplicable
Data produced within the frame of NERC grant no. NE/H017356/1 cover the classic open northeast Atlantic DSDP Site 401 (47° 25.65’ N, 08° 48.62’ W, 2495 m). From this site, around 2 mg of the 250-300 mm size fraction of mixed-layer dweller Morozovella subbotinae were picked for the carbon, oxygen and boron isotopic analyses. Furthermore, over the studied interval, very high-resolution Oxygen 18 and Carbon 13 analyses of bulk carbonate were conducted to establish a revised age model for Site 401. Following the analysis and data reduction, generated surface ocean pH records were implemented into the GENIE Earth System Model to reconstruct the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration evolution over this event.
publication
2011
false
See the referenced specification
publication
2010-12-08
false
See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF
MS Excel
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