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

Thermogenic methane release as a cause for the long duration of the PETM
Thermogenic methane release as a cause for the long duration of the PETM
The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) (∼56 Ma) was a ∼170,000-y (∼170-kyr) period of global warming associated with rapid and massive injections of 13C-depleted carbon into the ocean-atmosphere system, reflected in sedimentary components as a negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE). Carbon cycle modeling has indicated that the shape and magnitude of this CIE are generally explained by a large and rapid initial pulse, followed by ∼50 kyr of 13C-depleted carbon injection. Suggested sources include submarine methane hydrates, terrigenous organic matter, and thermogenic methane and CO2 from hydrothermal vent complexes. Here, we test for the contribution of carbon release associated with volcanic intrusions in the North Atlantic Igneous Province. We use dinoflagellate cyst and stable carbon isotope stratigraphy to date the active phase of a hydrothermal vent system and find it to postdate massive carbon release at the onset of the PETM. Crucially, however, it correlates to the period within the PETM of longer-term 13C-depleted carbon release. This finding represents actual proof of PETM carbon release from a particular reservoir. Based on carbon cycle box model [i.e., Long-Term Ocean-Atmosphere-Sediment Carbon Cycle Reservoir (LOSCAR) model] experiments, we show that 4-12 pulses of carbon input from vent systems over 60 kyr with a total mass of 1,500 Pg of C, consistent with the vent literature, match the shape of the CIE and pattern of deep ocean carbonate dissolution as recorded in sediment records. We therefore conclude that CH4 from the Norwegian Sea vent complexes was likely the main source of carbon during the PETM, following its dramatic onset.
Carbon cycle, Climate change, PETM, Thermogenic methane, Volcanism, atmosphere, climate change, cyst (resting stage), Eocene, experimental model, hydrothermal vent, information processing, Paleocene, reservoir, sea, sediment, stratigraphy, carbon, carbonic acid, isotope, methane
0027-8424
12059-12064
Frieling, Joost
76c2d878-65e9-4945-bc6b-1ab1daf7cb4d
Svensen, Henrik H.
5167a563-4c43-41f4-a83a-fd5458f08347
Planke, Sverre
fe952765-8cb5-4337-abf1-6f3cb88fe7ee
Cramwinckel, Margot J.
e467976c-be0c-47a5-a7eb-ecfe93048373
Selnes, Haavard
e58a387f-da9e-41d5-82e0-64088252fafe
Sluijs, Appy
af623507-b795-4458-8ca5-cce783869a3d
Frieling, Joost
76c2d878-65e9-4945-bc6b-1ab1daf7cb4d
Svensen, Henrik H.
5167a563-4c43-41f4-a83a-fd5458f08347
Planke, Sverre
fe952765-8cb5-4337-abf1-6f3cb88fe7ee
Cramwinckel, Margot J.
e467976c-be0c-47a5-a7eb-ecfe93048373
Selnes, Haavard
e58a387f-da9e-41d5-82e0-64088252fafe
Sluijs, Appy
af623507-b795-4458-8ca5-cce783869a3d

Frieling, Joost, Svensen, Henrik H., Planke, Sverre, Cramwinckel, Margot J., Selnes, Haavard and Sluijs, Appy (2016) Thermogenic methane release as a cause for the long duration of the PETM. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 113 (43), 12059-12064. (doi:10.1073/pnas.1603348113).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) (∼56 Ma) was a ∼170,000-y (∼170-kyr) period of global warming associated with rapid and massive injections of 13C-depleted carbon into the ocean-atmosphere system, reflected in sedimentary components as a negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE). Carbon cycle modeling has indicated that the shape and magnitude of this CIE are generally explained by a large and rapid initial pulse, followed by ∼50 kyr of 13C-depleted carbon injection. Suggested sources include submarine methane hydrates, terrigenous organic matter, and thermogenic methane and CO2 from hydrothermal vent complexes. Here, we test for the contribution of carbon release associated with volcanic intrusions in the North Atlantic Igneous Province. We use dinoflagellate cyst and stable carbon isotope stratigraphy to date the active phase of a hydrothermal vent system and find it to postdate massive carbon release at the onset of the PETM. Crucially, however, it correlates to the period within the PETM of longer-term 13C-depleted carbon release. This finding represents actual proof of PETM carbon release from a particular reservoir. Based on carbon cycle box model [i.e., Long-Term Ocean-Atmosphere-Sediment Carbon Cycle Reservoir (LOSCAR) model] experiments, we show that 4-12 pulses of carbon input from vent systems over 60 kyr with a total mass of 1,500 Pg of C, consistent with the vent literature, match the shape of the CIE and pattern of deep ocean carbonate dissolution as recorded in sediment records. We therefore conclude that CH4 from the Norwegian Sea vent complexes was likely the main source of carbon during the PETM, following its dramatic onset.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 19 August 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 10 October 2016
Published date: 25 October 2016
Keywords: Carbon cycle, Climate change, PETM, Thermogenic methane, Volcanism, atmosphere, climate change, cyst (resting stage), Eocene, experimental model, hydrothermal vent, information processing, Paleocene, reservoir, sea, sediment, stratigraphy, carbon, carbonic acid, isotope, methane

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 443356
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/443356
ISSN: 0027-8424
PURE UUID: bf81a247-c035-438f-a1a9-e736bb461165
ORCID for Margot J. Cramwinckel: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6063-836X

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Date deposited: 21 Aug 2020 16:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 09:01

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Contributors

Author: Joost Frieling
Author: Henrik H. Svensen
Author: Sverre Planke
Author: Margot J. Cramwinckel ORCID iD
Author: Haavard Selnes
Author: Appy Sluijs

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