New chronology for the late Paleocene thermal maximum and its environmental implications

Research Article| October 01, 2000 New chronology for the late Paleocene thermal maximum and its environmental implications U. Röhl; U. Röhl 1Department of Geosciences, Bremen University, 28334 Bremen, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar T.J. Bralower; T.J. Bralower 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R.D. Norris; R.D. Norris 3MS-23, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02540-1541, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G. Wefer G. Wefer 1Department of Geosciences, Bremen University, 28334 Bremen, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information U. Röhl 1Department of Geosciences, Bremen University, 28334 Bremen, Germany T.J. Bralower 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA R.D. Norris 3MS-23, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02540-1541, USA G. Wefer 1Department of Geosciences, Bremen University, 28334 Bremen, Germany Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 14 Mar 2000 Revision Received: 05 Jul 2000 Accepted: 19 Jul 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2000) 28 (10): 927–930. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<927:NCFTLP>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 14 Mar 2000 Revision Received: 05 Jul 2000 Accepted: 19 Jul 2000 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation U. Röhl, T.J. Bralower, R.D. Norris, G. Wefer; New chronology for the late Paleocene thermal maximum and its environmental implications. Geology 2000;; 28 (10): 927–930. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2000)28<927:NCFTLP>2.0.CO;2 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 The late Paleocene thermal maximum (LPTM) is associated with a brief, but intense, interval of global warming and a massive perturbation of the global carbon cycle. We have developed a new orbital chronology for Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 690 (Weddell Sea, Southern Ocean) by using spectral analysis of high-resolution geochemical records. The LPTM interval spans 11 precessional cycles yielding a duration of 210 to 220 k.y. The δ13C anomaly associated with the LPTM has a magnitude of about −2.5‰ to −3‰; we show that about −2‰ of the excursion occurs within two steps that each were less than 1000 yr in duration. The remainder developed through a series of steps over ∼52 k.y. The timing of these steps is consistent with a series of nearly catastrophic releases of methane from gas hydrates, punctuated by intervals of relative equilibria between hydrate dissociation and carbon burial. Further, we are able to correlate the records between ODP Sites 690 and 1051 (western North Atlantic) on the scale of 21 k.y. cycles, which demonstrates that the details of the δ13C excursion are recognizable between distant sites. Comparison of cycle records at Sites 690 and 1051 suggests that sediment representing the interval ∼30 k.y. just prior to and at the onset of the LPTM are missing in the latter location. This unconformity probably resulted from slope failure accompanying methane hydrate dissociation within 10 k.y. of the start of the LPTM. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.