Tropical climate, ecology and hydrology during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum.

J. Frieling, G.-J. Reichart, S. Schouten, P.K. Bijl, S.I. Bankole, E. Schrank, A. Sluijs

Research output: Contribution to conferenceAbstractOther research output

Abstract

The Paleocene - Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) plays a key role in the paleoclimate research, as it represents an imperfect analogue to future warming. The PETM was a geologically brief (~170kyr) episode of extreme global warming. A pronounced negative carbon isotope excursion (CIE) in sedimentary components and deep sea carbonate dissolution reflect massive and rapid carbon input at that time. Documentation of this period is extensive for the high and mid latitudes, but the tropics remain virtually untouched. However, for the full understanding of PETM climates the tropical end member needs to be quantified in terms of temperature and hydrology. We have studied an upper Paleocene – lower Eocene siliciclastic shelf section from Nigeria deposited at equatorial latitudes. Carbon isotope analysis and dinoflagellate analysis as well as biomarker analysis have been conducted. Carbon isotope analysis on total organic carbon (TOC) revealed an excursion of ~-6‰. Dinoflagellate cyst biostratigraphy confirms that this CIE represents the PETM. Shifts in species composition in the dinocyst assemblage are interpreted in terms of salinity, sea level, eutrophication and stratification. Representatives of the dinocyst genus Apectodinium are present throughout the section and abundant before the CIE. However, during the CIE Apectodinium is only a minor component in the assemblage, while it dominates most other PETM assemblages studied so far. Increasing concentrations of Senegalinium related genera suggest that the absence of the Apectodinium acme is related to higher influx of fresh water. Finally, we will present organic biomarker analysis, including TEX86 paleothermometry.
Original languageEnglish
Publication statusPublished - 28 Aug 2011
EventDINO9 - Liverpool, UK
Duration: 28 Aug 20112 Sept 2011

Conference

ConferenceDINO9
CityLiverpool, UK
Period28/08/112/09/11

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