Upper limits on the extent of seafloor anoxia during the PETM from uranium isotopes

Matthew O Clarkson,Derek Vance,Morten B Andersen,Timothy M Lenton,Alexander J Dickson,Marie-Laure Bagard

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-20486-5

Abstract

The Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) represents a major carbon cycle and climate perturbation that was associated with ocean de-oxygenation, in a qualitatively similar manner to the more extensive Mesozoic Oceanic Anoxic Events. Although indicators of ocean de-oxygenation are common for the PETM, and linked to biotic turnover, the global extent and temporal progression of de-oxygenation is poorly constrained. Here we present carbonate associated uranium isotope data for the PETM. A lack of resolvable perturbation to the U-cycle during the event suggests a limited expansion of seafloor anoxia on a global scale. We use this result, in conjunction with a biogeochemical model, to set an upper limit on the extent of global seafloor de-oxygenation. The model suggests that the new U isotope data, whilst also being consistent with plausible carbon emission scenarios and observations of carbon cycle recovery, permit a maximum ~10-fold expansion of anoxia, covering <2% of seafloor area.

Highlights

The Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) represents a major carbon cycle and climate perturbation that was associated with ocean de-oxygenation, in a qualitatively similar manner to the more extensive Mesozoic Oceanic Anoxic Events
The PETM is characterized by the input of isotopically light carbon, probably representing a mixture of mantle-derived carbon from large igneous province (LIP) activity and oxidation of organic carbon reservoirs[1,2,3,4]
Many of the characteristics and hypotheses for the PETM are shared with the Mesozoic Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs), allowing them to be compared for insights into the driving mechanisms of environmental catastrophe and for understanding negative feedbacks that counter greenhouse gas forcing and enable climate recovery, such as silicate weathering and organic carbon burial[1,16,25]

Summary

Introduction

The Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) represents a major carbon cycle and climate perturbation that was associated with ocean de-oxygenation, in a qualitatively similar manner to the more extensive Mesozoic Oceanic Anoxic Events. Sulfur (S) isotope evidence has been used to model a 10−20-fold increase in the volume of euxinic waters (with up to 0.5 mM H2S) during the PETM compared to the modern ocean[27] Whilst these studies provide important insights into general redox characteristics, neither capture non-euxinic redox changes that are crucial for understanding faunal responses and biogeochemical feedbacks during climate perturbations. To overcome these limitations, we present the first carbonateassociated uranium isotope data (238U/235U, reported as δ238UCAU; see “Methods”) for the PETM interval. Uranium reduction primarily occurs at or below the sediment–water interface, at a redox potential similar to that for iron reduction[30]

Methods

Results

Conclusion