Millennial-timescale thermogenic CO2 release preceding the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

Geologic records support a short-lived carbon release, known as the pre-onset excursion (POE), shortly before the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM; ~ 56 Ma). However, the source and pace of the POE carbon release and its relationship to the PETM remain unresolved. Here we show a high-temporal-resolution stratigraphic record spanning the POE and PETM from the eastern Tethys Ocean that documents the evolution of surface ocean carbon cycle, redox and eutrophication, confirming the global nature of the POE. Biomarkers extracted from the sedimentary record indicate a smaller environmental perturbation during the POE than that during the PETM in the eastern Tethys Ocean. Earth system modeling constrained by observed δ<sup>13</sup>C and pH data indicates that the POE was driven by a largely thermogenic CO<sub>2</sub> source, likely associated with sill intrusions prior to the main eruption phase of the North Atlantic Igneous Province and possibly biogeochemical feedbacks involving the release of biogenic methane.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Nature Communications
Published
2025-06-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60939-3
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.30

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Millennial-timescale thermogenic CO2 release preceding the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

James C. Zachos, Yang‐Guang Gu, Runjian Chu, Yasu Wang et al.
1 citations
Nature Communications
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
1.30
article

Millennial-timescale thermogenic CO2 release preceding the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

James C. Zachos, Yang‐Guang Gu, Runjian Chu, Yasu Wang, Ying Cui, Shijun Jiang, Timothy J. Bralower, Xiumian Hu, Miquela Ingalls, Jiuyuan Wang, Huaichun Wu, Shiling Yang, Yizhou Huang, Andy Ridgwell, Maurizia De Palma, B. David A. Naafs, Jingxin Jiang
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Geologic records support a short-lived carbon release, known as the pre-onset excursion (POE), shortly before the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM; ~ 56 Ma). However, the source and pace of the POE carbon release and its relationship to the PETM remain unresolved. Here we show a high-temporal-resolution stratigraphic record spanning the POE and PETM from the eastern Tethys Ocean that documents the evolution of surface ocean carbon cycle, redox and eutrophication, confirming the global nature of the POE. Biomarkers extracted from the sedimentary record indicate a smaller environmental perturbation during the POE than that during the PETM in the eastern Tethys Ocean. Earth system modeling constrained by observed δ<sup>13</sup>C and pH data indicates that the POE was driven by a largely thermogenic CO<sub>2</sub> source, likely associated with sill intrusions prior to the main eruption phase of the North Atlantic Igneous Province and possibly biogeochemical feedbacks involving the release of biogenic methane.

Nature CommunicationsVol. 16(1)
University of California, Riverside (US), Pennsylvania State University (US), Montclair State University (US), University of California, Santa Cruz (US), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), Peking University (CN), Hainan University (CN), China University of Geosciences (Beijing) (CN), University of Bristol (GB), Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) (CN), Institute of Geology and Geophysics (CN), Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (CN), Nanjing University (CN)
National Science Foundation, Agouron Institute, European Commission, National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Environment Research Council
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 21%
Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
1.30
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.