Evidence for a rapid release of carbon at the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum. Wright, J. D. & Schaller, M. F. The Paleocene/Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) and associated carbon isotope excursion (CIE) are often touted as the best geologic analog for the current anthropogenic rise in pCO2. However, a causal mechanism for the PETM CIE remains unidentified because of large uncertainties in the duration of the CIE’s onset. Here, we report on a sequence of rhythmic sedimentary couplets comprising the Paleocene/Eocene Marlboro Clay (Salisbury Embayment). These couplets have corresponding δ18O cycles that imply a climatic origin. Seasonal insolation is the only regular climate cycle that can plausibly account for δ18O amplitudes and layer counts. High-resolution stable isotope records show 3.5‰ δ13C decrease over 13 couplets defining the CIE onset, which requires a large, instantaneous release of 13C-depleted carbon. During the CIE, a clear δ13C gradient developed on the shelf with the largest excursions in shallowest waters, indicating atmospheric δ13C decreased by ∼20‰. Our observations and revised release rate are consistent with an atmospheric perturbation of 3,000-gigatons of carbon (GtC)., 110(40):15908–15913, October, 2013. 00041
Evidence for a rapid release of carbon at the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum [link]Paper  doi  abstract   bibtex   
National Academy of Sciences
@article{wright_evidence_2013,
	title = {Evidence for a rapid release of carbon at the {Paleocene}-{Eocene} thermal maximum},
	volume = {110},
	issn = {0027-8424, 1091-6490},
	url = {http://www.pnas.org/content/110/40/15908},
	doi = {10.1073/pnas.1309188110},
	abstract = {National Academy of Sciences},
	language = {en},
	number = {40},
	urldate = {2017-02-09},
	journal = {The Paleocene/Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) and associated carbon isotope excursion (CIE) are often touted as the best geologic analog for the current anthropogenic rise in pCO2. However, a causal mechanism for the PETM CIE remains unidentified because of large uncertainties in the duration of the CIE’s onset. Here, we report on a sequence of rhythmic sedimentary couplets comprising the Paleocene/Eocene Marlboro Clay (Salisbury Embayment). These couplets have corresponding δ18O cycles that imply a climatic origin. Seasonal insolation is the only regular climate cycle that can plausibly account for δ18O amplitudes and layer counts. High-resolution stable isotope records show 3.5‰ δ13C decrease over 13 couplets defining the CIE onset, which requires a large, instantaneous release of 13C-depleted carbon. During the CIE, a clear δ13C gradient developed on the shelf with the largest excursions in shallowest waters, indicating atmospheric δ13C decreased by ∼20‰. Our observations and revised release rate are consistent with an atmospheric perturbation of 3,000-gigatons of carbon (GtC).},
	author = {Wright, James D. and Schaller, Morgan F.},
	month = oct,
	year = {2013},
	pmid = {24043840},
	note = {00041 },
	keywords = {boundaries, collapse, climate, 4°C-and-beyond},
	pages = {15908--15913},
	file = {Wright and Schaller - 2013 - Evidence for a rapid release of carbon at the Pale.pdf:C\:\\Users\\rsrs\\Documents\\Zotero Database\\storage\\3ZII7SEX\\Wright and Schaller - 2013 - Evidence for a rapid release of carbon at the Pale.pdf:application/pdf}
}

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