Absence of major vegetation and palaeoatmospheric pCO2 changes associated with oceanic anoxic event 1a (Early Aptian, SE France)

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

Autoren

Externe Organisationen

  • ETH Zürich
  • Universität Zürich (UZH)
  • National Oceanography Centre
  • Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel (CAU)
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OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)303-318
Seitenumfang16
FachzeitschriftEarth and Planetary Science Letters
Jahrgang223
Ausgabenummer3-4
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 15 Juli 2004
Extern publiziertJa

Abstract

The deposition of organic-rich sediments during the late Early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE) 1a has been interpreted to result in a major decrease of palaeoatmospheric CO2 concentrations, accompanied by significant changes in the terrestrial flora. In order to test this hypothesis, the OAE 1a interval in the Vocontian Basin (SE France) has been studied with a combined approach including stable carbon isotopes, organic geochemistry and palynology. To estimate changes in palaeoatmospheric CO2 levels across the OAE 1a, the δ 13C composition of presumed algal biomarkers (low molecular weight n -alkanes, steranes) and of bulk carbonate carbon are used. Our results yield estimated Early Aptian carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) values three to four times the preindustrial level and only a moderate drop across the black shale event. This moderate drop in pCO2 is supported by palynological results. The frequency patterns of climate-sensitive sporomorphs (incl. pteridophyte spores, bisaccate pollen and Classopollis spp.) display only minor fluctuations throughout the studied section and indicate relatively stable patterns of terrestrial vegetation during and after formation of the OAE 1a black shale. The occurrence of a characteristic Early Aptian carbon isotope pattern across the OAE 1a interval permits accurate chemostratigraphic correlation with the well-studied Livello Selli interval of the Cismon record (N Italy). The contemporaneous formation of individual black shale layers at both sites indicates that transient episodes of dysoxic-anoxic bottom waters prevailed over large areas in the W Tethys Ocean independent of depositional setting. Comparison of the palynological data from the two locations displays significant differences in the frequency patterns of bisaccate pollen. The contrasting pollen spectra are interpreted to reflect prominent changes in the palaeoceanographic current patterns and/or selective sorting due to sea-level rise rather than latitudinal shifts of the major floral belts.

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Absence of major vegetation and palaeoatmospheric pCO2 changes associated with oceanic anoxic event 1a (Early Aptian, SE France). / Heimhofer, Ulrich; Hochuli, Peter A.; Herrle, Jens O. et al.
in: Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Jahrgang 223, Nr. 3-4, 15.07.2004, S. 303-318.

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftArtikelForschungPeer-Review

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title = "Absence of major vegetation and palaeoatmospheric pCO2 changes associated with oceanic anoxic event 1a (Early Aptian, SE France)",
abstract = "The deposition of organic-rich sediments during the late Early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE) 1a has been interpreted to result in a major decrease of palaeoatmospheric CO2 concentrations, accompanied by significant changes in the terrestrial flora. In order to test this hypothesis, the OAE 1a interval in the Vocontian Basin (SE France) has been studied with a combined approach including stable carbon isotopes, organic geochemistry and palynology. To estimate changes in palaeoatmospheric CO2 levels across the OAE 1a, the δ 13C composition of presumed algal biomarkers (low molecular weight n -alkanes, steranes) and of bulk carbonate carbon are used. Our results yield estimated Early Aptian carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) values three to four times the preindustrial level and only a moderate drop across the black shale event. This moderate drop in pCO2 is supported by palynological results. The frequency patterns of climate-sensitive sporomorphs (incl. pteridophyte spores, bisaccate pollen and Classopollis spp.) display only minor fluctuations throughout the studied section and indicate relatively stable patterns of terrestrial vegetation during and after formation of the OAE 1a black shale. The occurrence of a characteristic Early Aptian carbon isotope pattern across the OAE 1a interval permits accurate chemostratigraphic correlation with the well-studied Livello Selli interval of the Cismon record (N Italy). The contemporaneous formation of individual black shale layers at both sites indicates that transient episodes of dysoxic-anoxic bottom waters prevailed over large areas in the W Tethys Ocean independent of depositional setting. Comparison of the palynological data from the two locations displays significant differences in the frequency patterns of bisaccate pollen. The contrasting pollen spectra are interpreted to reflect prominent changes in the palaeoceanographic current patterns and/or selective sorting due to sea-level rise rather than latitudinal shifts of the major floral belts.",
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author = "Ulrich Heimhofer and Hochuli, {Peter A.} and Herrle, {Jens O.} and Nils Andersen and Helmut Weissert",
note = "Funding Information: We thank Luc Zwank from the EAWAG for support with the irmGC-MS measurements and Christian Ostertag-Henning from the University of M{\"u}nster for the help with the sterane identification. This manuscript was significantly improved thanks to the suggestions and reviews by R.V. Tyson and M. Pagani. Financial support from ETH-project TH-34./99-4 is greatfully acknowledged. [BARD] ",
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Download

TY - JOUR

T1 - Absence of major vegetation and palaeoatmospheric pCO2 changes associated with oceanic anoxic event 1a (Early Aptian, SE France)

AU - Heimhofer, Ulrich

AU - Hochuli, Peter A.

AU - Herrle, Jens O.

AU - Andersen, Nils

AU - Weissert, Helmut

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Luc Zwank from the EAWAG for support with the irmGC-MS measurements and Christian Ostertag-Henning from the University of Münster for the help with the sterane identification. This manuscript was significantly improved thanks to the suggestions and reviews by R.V. Tyson and M. Pagani. Financial support from ETH-project TH-34./99-4 is greatfully acknowledged. [BARD]

PY - 2004/7/15

Y1 - 2004/7/15

N2 - The deposition of organic-rich sediments during the late Early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE) 1a has been interpreted to result in a major decrease of palaeoatmospheric CO2 concentrations, accompanied by significant changes in the terrestrial flora. In order to test this hypothesis, the OAE 1a interval in the Vocontian Basin (SE France) has been studied with a combined approach including stable carbon isotopes, organic geochemistry and palynology. To estimate changes in palaeoatmospheric CO2 levels across the OAE 1a, the δ 13C composition of presumed algal biomarkers (low molecular weight n -alkanes, steranes) and of bulk carbonate carbon are used. Our results yield estimated Early Aptian carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) values three to four times the preindustrial level and only a moderate drop across the black shale event. This moderate drop in pCO2 is supported by palynological results. The frequency patterns of climate-sensitive sporomorphs (incl. pteridophyte spores, bisaccate pollen and Classopollis spp.) display only minor fluctuations throughout the studied section and indicate relatively stable patterns of terrestrial vegetation during and after formation of the OAE 1a black shale. The occurrence of a characteristic Early Aptian carbon isotope pattern across the OAE 1a interval permits accurate chemostratigraphic correlation with the well-studied Livello Selli interval of the Cismon record (N Italy). The contemporaneous formation of individual black shale layers at both sites indicates that transient episodes of dysoxic-anoxic bottom waters prevailed over large areas in the W Tethys Ocean independent of depositional setting. Comparison of the palynological data from the two locations displays significant differences in the frequency patterns of bisaccate pollen. The contrasting pollen spectra are interpreted to reflect prominent changes in the palaeoceanographic current patterns and/or selective sorting due to sea-level rise rather than latitudinal shifts of the major floral belts.

AB - The deposition of organic-rich sediments during the late Early Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event (OAE) 1a has been interpreted to result in a major decrease of palaeoatmospheric CO2 concentrations, accompanied by significant changes in the terrestrial flora. In order to test this hypothesis, the OAE 1a interval in the Vocontian Basin (SE France) has been studied with a combined approach including stable carbon isotopes, organic geochemistry and palynology. To estimate changes in palaeoatmospheric CO2 levels across the OAE 1a, the δ 13C composition of presumed algal biomarkers (low molecular weight n -alkanes, steranes) and of bulk carbonate carbon are used. Our results yield estimated Early Aptian carbon dioxide partial pressure (pCO2) values three to four times the preindustrial level and only a moderate drop across the black shale event. This moderate drop in pCO2 is supported by palynological results. The frequency patterns of climate-sensitive sporomorphs (incl. pteridophyte spores, bisaccate pollen and Classopollis spp.) display only minor fluctuations throughout the studied section and indicate relatively stable patterns of terrestrial vegetation during and after formation of the OAE 1a black shale. The occurrence of a characteristic Early Aptian carbon isotope pattern across the OAE 1a interval permits accurate chemostratigraphic correlation with the well-studied Livello Selli interval of the Cismon record (N Italy). The contemporaneous formation of individual black shale layers at both sites indicates that transient episodes of dysoxic-anoxic bottom waters prevailed over large areas in the W Tethys Ocean independent of depositional setting. Comparison of the palynological data from the two locations displays significant differences in the frequency patterns of bisaccate pollen. The contrasting pollen spectra are interpreted to reflect prominent changes in the palaeoceanographic current patterns and/or selective sorting due to sea-level rise rather than latitudinal shifts of the major floral belts.

KW - Aptian

KW - Black shale

KW - Carbon isotope

KW - Early Cretaceous

KW - OAE

KW - Organic geochemistry

KW - Palaeoatmosphere

KW - Palynology

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U2 - 10.1016/j.epsl.2004.04.037

DO - 10.1016/j.epsl.2004.04.037

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:3042771875

VL - 223

SP - 303

EP - 318

JO - Earth and Planetary Science Letters

JF - Earth and Planetary Science Letters

SN - 0012-821X

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ER -

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