Coupled evolution of temperature and carbonate chemistry during the Paleocene–Eocene; new trace element records from the low latitude Indian Ocean

Barnet, James S.K.; Harper, Dustin T.; LeVay, Leah J.; Edgar, Kirsty M.; Henehan, Michael J.; Babila, Tali L.; Ullmann, Clemens V.; Leng, Melanie J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1115-5166; Kroon, Dick; Zachos, James C.; Littler, Kate. 2020 Coupled evolution of temperature and carbonate chemistry during the Paleocene–Eocene; new trace element records from the low latitude Indian Ocean. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 545, 116414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116414

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text (Open Access Paper)
1-s2.0-S0012821X20303587-main.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.
Download (1MB) | Preview

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116414

Abstract/Summary

The early Paleogene represents the most recent interval in Earth's history characterized by global greenhouse warmth on multi-million year timescales, yet our understanding of long-term climate and carbon cycle evolution in the low latitudes, and in particular the Indian Ocean, remains very poorly constrained. Here we present the first long-term sub-eccentricity-resolution stable isotope ( and ) and trace element (Mg/Ca and B/Ca) records spanning the late Paleocene–early Eocene (∼58–53 Ma) across a surface–deep hydrographic reconstruction of the northern Indian Ocean, resolving late Paleocene 405-kyr paced cyclicity and a portion of the PETM recovery. Our new records reveal a long-term warming of ∼4–5 °C at all depths in the water column, with absolute surface ocean temperatures and magnitudes of warming comparable to the low latitude Pacific. As a result of warming, we observe a long-term increase in of the mixed layer, implying an increase in net evaporation. We also observe a collapse in the temperature gradient between mixed layer- and thermocline-dwelling species from ∼57–54 Ma, potentially due to either the development of a more homogeneous water column with a thicker mixed layer, or depth migration of the Morozovella in response to warming. Synchronous warming at both low and high latitudes, along with decreasing B/Ca ratios in planktic foraminifera indicating a decrease in ocean pH and/or increasing dissolved inorganic carbon, suggest that global climate was forced by rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations during this time.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116414
ISSN:	0012821X
Date made live:	15 Sep 2020 12:16 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528481

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2020.116414

ISSN:

0012821X

Date made live:

15 Sep 2020 12:16 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/528481