High-resolution carbon isotope record for the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum from the Nanyang Basin, Central China

Abstract

The Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) was a transient episode of global warming, associated with massive atmospheric greenhouse gas input that occurred at the Paleocene/Eocene boundary. Biostratigraphic and isotope stratigraphic studies indicate that the PETM event is well documented in the marl deposits of the Yuhuangding section in the Nanyang Basin, Central China, with a carbon isotope negative excursion of ~6.1‰ within 19-m-thick marl deposits. This is the highest resolution record of the PETM so far found in the world. The PETM event was triggered within 2-cm-thick marl sediments, with a decrease of δ 13 C (stable carbon isotope ratio) from -3.2‰ to -5.2‰, suggesting a massive methane hydrate release for a transient period that was possibly caused by a catastrophic event. A comparison between marine and terrestrial records indicates a "Three-Phase Model" for the PETM event. Initially there is a rapid negative excursion in the δ 13 C record, followed by a slowly decreasing trend, and then a gradual positive recovery, corresponding respectively to a rapid dissociation of oceanic methane hydrate, followed by a slow release of methane and then the consumption of the released methane. PETM, carbon isotope, greenhouse gases, Nanyang Basin Citation:Zhu M, Ding Z L, Wang X, et al. High-resolution carbon isotope record for the Paleocene-Eocene thermal

Structure of the carbon isotope excursion in a high-resolution lacustrine Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum record from central China

“…Our previous work has detected the CIE in the lower part of the Yuhuangding Formation based on a long-term micrite δ 13 C record (Fig. 2) (Zhu et al, 2010). However, intrabasinal sedimentary variations in facies and lithology may complicate the record.…”

“…These strata do not contain any significant unconformities and no evidence indicates any existence of hiatus. (Ma and Cheng, 1991;Huang et al, 2004;Zhao and Guo, 1995) and chemostratigraphy (Zhu et al, 2010) of the studied area. Paleocene fossils are indicated with red symbols and early Eocene with green.…”

Simulation of sea surface temperature changes in the Middle Pliocene warm period and comparison with reconstructions

“…A model that can reasonably simulate the past climate is thought to be more reliable in predicting the future climate. Over the past two decades, many geological studies have presented results on different time scales through reconstruction [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. In terms of modeling, on the other hand,…”

“…A model that can reasonably simulate the past climate is thought to be more reliable in predicting the future climate. Over the past two decades, many geological studies have presented results on different time scales through reconstruction [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. In terms of modeling, on the other hand, some progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of past climate changes [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16], but most modeling studies have focused on the Quaternary climate and little attention has been given to warm periods before the Quaternary.…”

High‐Resolution Eocene Magnetostratigraphy of the Xijigou Section: Implications for the Infilling Process of Xining Basin, Northeastern Tibetan Plateau

“…However, there is an increasing availability of terrestrial sedimentary archives of the Eocene. These sites are located on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau (Bosboom et al, ; Chi et al, ; Dai et al, ; Horton et al, ; Long et al, ; Miao et al, ; Sun et al, ; Yue et al, ), in central China (Bowen et al, ; Ting et al, ; Zhu et al, ), northeastern China (Chen et al, ), southwestern China (Li et al, ; Su et al, ), North and South America (Hyland et al, ; Hyland et al, ; Hyland & Sheldon, ; Koch et al, ; Krause et al, ), and Europe (Egger et al, ). Research on these Eocene sections has focused mainly on chronology and specific climatic events, whereas few studies have drawn stratigraphic comparisons between different sections (Fang et al, ; Smith et al, ).…”