Surface ocean warming and acidification driven by rapid carbon release precedes Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

Tali L. Babila; Don E Penman; CD Standish; Monica Doubrawa; Tim J Bralower; Marci M. Robinson; Jean Self-Trail; Robert P. Speijer; Peter Stassen; Gavin L Foster; James C. Zachos

doi:10.1126/sciadv.abg1025

Surface ocean warming and acidification driven by rapid carbon release precedes Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

Science Advances

By: Tali L. Babila, Don E Penman, CD Standish, Monica Doubrawa, Tim J Bralower, Marci M. Robinson, Jean Self-Trail, Robert P. Speijer, Peter Stassen, Gavin L Foster, and James C. Zachos

https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abg1025

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Abstract

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is recognized by a major negative carbon isotope (δ¹³C) excursion (CIE) signifying an injection of isotopically light carbon into exogenic reservoirs, the mass, source, and tempo of which continue to be debated. Evidence of a transient precursor carbon release(s) has been identified in a few localities, although it remains equivocal whether there is a global signal. Here, we present foraminiferal δ¹³C records from a marine continental margin section, which reveal a 1.0 to 1.5‰ negative pre-onset excursion (POE), and concomitant rise in sea surface temperature of at least 2°C and a decline in ocean pH. The recovery of both δ¹³C and pH before the CIE onset and apparent absence of a POE in deep-sea records suggests a rapid (< ocean mixing time scales) carbon release, followed by recovery driven by deep-sea mixing. Carbon released during the POE is therefore likely more similar to ongoing anthropogenic emissions in mass and rate than the main CIE.

Suggested Citation

Babila, T.L., Penman, D.E., Standish, C., Doubrawa, M., Bralower, T.J., Robinson, M.M., Self-Trail, J., Speijer, R.P., Stassen, P., Foster, G.L., and Zachos, J.C., 2022, Surface ocean warming and acidification driven by rapid carbon release precedes Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum: Science Advances, v. 8, no. 11, eabg1025, 13 p., https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abg1025.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Surface ocean warming and acidification driven by rapid carbon release precedes Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum
Series title	Science Advances
DOI	10.1126/sciadv.abg1025
Volume	8
Issue	11
Year Published	2022
Language	English
Publisher	Science
Contributing office(s)	Florence Bascom Geoscience Center
Description	eabg1025, 13 p.