Changes in continental weathering regimes inhibited global marine deoxygenation during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum
The moderate impact of rapid global warming on oceanic redox and biodiversity during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM; ~55.9 Ma) contrasts with other hyperthermal events in Earth's history, and remains mostly unexplained. Here, we use lithium isotope (δ<sup>7</sup>Li) proxy and Earth system model simulations to reconstruct continental weathering regimes during the PETM. Negative δ<sup>7</sup>Li excursions of 3-4‰ in shallow-marine carbonates suggests globally increased erosion rates and decreased weathering intensities. Further, large negative δ<sup>7</sup>Li excursions of 4-5‰ in siliciclastic successions reflect enhanced accumulation of detrital clays exhumed from previous clay-rich sedimentary rocks, rather than those from weathering of igneous rocks. Changes in continental weathering regimes and associated flux of nutrients to oceans provide an explanation to the muted increase in oceanic anoxia and overall biodiversity loss during the PETM. The concomitant increases in physical erosion and clay delivery also enhanced organic carbon burial efficiency, permitting rapid return of global climate to pre-perturbation state.
Authors
- Guang‐Yi Wei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0995-8923)
- Shijun Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6259-7912)
- Pierre Maffre (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5766-476X)
- Alexandre Pohl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2328-351X)
- Philip A.E. Pogge von Strandmann (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7181-4165)
- Shu‐zhong Shen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8380-0692)
- Guolin Xiong
- Feifei Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3277-445X)
- Wenqian Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2925-4306)
- Hua Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5871-8264)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (DE)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Hainan University (CN)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology (CN)
- Centre de Recherche et d’Enseignement de Géosciences de l’Environnement (FR)
- Biogéosciences (FR)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- University College London (GB)
- Nanjing University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-10-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64217-0
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.60
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Government of Jiangsu Province
- Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province
- Université de Bourgogne
- Nanjing University
- National Key Research and Development Program of China