A continental shelf perspective of ocean acidification and temperature evolution during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

Abstract

Research Article| April 01, 2016 A continental shelf perspective of ocean acidification and temperature evolution during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum Tali L. Babila; Tali L. Babila 1Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of California–Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, California 95064, USA2Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, 71 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Yair Rosenthal; Yair Rosenthal 2Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, 71 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA3Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar James D. Wright; James D. Wright 3Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kenneth G. Miller Kenneth G. Miller 3Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, 610 Taylor Road, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2016) 44 (4): 275–278. https://doi.org/10.1130/G37522.1 Article history received: 13 Nov 2015 rev-recd: 11 Feb 2016 accepted: 15 Feb 2016 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Tali L. Babila, Yair Rosenthal, James D. Wright, Kenneth G. Miller; A continental shelf perspective of ocean acidification and temperature evolution during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum. Geology 2016;; 44 (4): 275–278. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G37522.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract A rapid and large injection of isotopically light carbon into the ocean-atmosphere reservoirs is signaled by a negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE) at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary ∼56 m.y. ago. To better understand the extent of ocean warming and acidification associated with the carbon injection we generated elemental and isotopic records of surface and thermocline planktonic foraminifera across the Paleocene-Eocene boundary from an expanded section along the Mid-Atlantic coastal plain, New Jersey (USA). Ocean temperatures (derived from magnesium/calcium paleothermometer) document a lag in thermocline warming relative to surface waters, implying a progressive deepening of the mixed layer in addition to global warming. A similar magnitude of acidification (as recorded by boron/calcium, B/Ca) on the shelf compared with open ocean sites confirms widespread acidification of the surface ocean. An increase in seawater alkalinity after the CIE, as recorded by B/Ca in planktonic foraminifera, likely played an important role in neutralizing the added carbon, possibly minimizing benthic extinction along the shelf. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.