Assessing the duration of the Paleocene‐Eocene Thermal Maximum
Assessing the duration of the Paleocene‐Eocene Thermal Maximum
The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was a climate/carbon cycle perturbation recognized in stable carbon isotope (δ13C) records with a negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE). The PETM CIE termination has been associated with a δ13C inflection with pre-PETM-like values referred to as the G point. However, the G point approach has produced variable PETM CIE duration estimates (∼120–230 kyr), which reflects a need to test its reliability. Here, we apply statistical analyses to existing δ13C records and reveal that the G point is sensitive to underlying δ13C uncertainties. We generate a probabilistic-based CIE detection limit, which constrains the time range over which the PETM is detected in δ13C records. This protocol reveals a protracted CIE recovery (>145 kyr) that accounts for a 268.8+21.2/−20.5 kyr PETM CIE duration. Our new duration estimate exceeds previous values, which confirms the potential of extreme carbon cycle perturbations to cause long-lasting carbon cycle disruptions.
Piedrahita, Victor A.
f8705802-c876-4614-b379-6f2c90979599
Heslop, David
f32aae36-7f51-40e1-bf7d-54a561369a8d
Roberts, Andrew P.
4f062491-5408-4edb-8dd1-140c6a42e93f
Rohling, Eelco J.
a2a27ef2-fcce-4c71-907b-e692b5ecc685
Galeotti, Simone
92757162-e601-4d3f-9cd0-ceff6c020f76
Florindo, Fabio
5953170b-79f7-431e-9e08-824a47e0fbd5
Li, Jinhua
5cc7001a-39ff-4445-8cfb-9d00451dfcef
1 April 2025
Piedrahita, Victor A.
f8705802-c876-4614-b379-6f2c90979599
Heslop, David
f32aae36-7f51-40e1-bf7d-54a561369a8d
Roberts, Andrew P.
4f062491-5408-4edb-8dd1-140c6a42e93f
Rohling, Eelco J.
a2a27ef2-fcce-4c71-907b-e692b5ecc685
Galeotti, Simone
92757162-e601-4d3f-9cd0-ceff6c020f76
Florindo, Fabio
5953170b-79f7-431e-9e08-824a47e0fbd5
Li, Jinhua
5cc7001a-39ff-4445-8cfb-9d00451dfcef
Piedrahita, Victor A., Heslop, David, Roberts, Andrew P., Rohling, Eelco J., Galeotti, Simone, Florindo, Fabio and Li, Jinhua
(2025)
Assessing the duration of the Paleocene‐Eocene Thermal Maximum.
Geophysical Research Letters, 52, [e2024GL113117].
(doi:10.1029/2024GL113117).
Abstract
The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was a climate/carbon cycle perturbation recognized in stable carbon isotope (δ13C) records with a negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE). The PETM CIE termination has been associated with a δ13C inflection with pre-PETM-like values referred to as the G point. However, the G point approach has produced variable PETM CIE duration estimates (∼120–230 kyr), which reflects a need to test its reliability. Here, we apply statistical analyses to existing δ13C records and reveal that the G point is sensitive to underlying δ13C uncertainties. We generate a probabilistic-based CIE detection limit, which constrains the time range over which the PETM is detected in δ13C records. This protocol reveals a protracted CIE recovery (>145 kyr) that accounts for a 268.8+21.2/−20.5 kyr PETM CIE duration. Our new duration estimate exceeds previous values, which confirms the potential of extreme carbon cycle perturbations to cause long-lasting carbon cycle disruptions.
Text
Geophysical Research Letters - 2025 - Piedrahita - Assessing the Duration of the Paleocene‐Eocene Thermal Maximum
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 12 March 2025
Published date: 1 April 2025
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 504320
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/504320
ISSN: 0094-8276
PURE UUID: 68bb925e-5831-4e1a-87ce-619b47f66ed2
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 04 Sep 2025 16:38
Last modified: 06 Sep 2025 01:35
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
Victor A. Piedrahita
Author:
David Heslop
Author:
Andrew P. Roberts
Author:
Simone Galeotti
Author:
Fabio Florindo
Author:
Jinhua Li
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
