Bijl, Peter K.; Houben, Alexander J. P.; Schouten, Stefan; Bohaty, Steven M.; Sluijs, Appy; Reichart, Gert-Jan; Sinninghe Damste, Jaap S.; Brinkhuis, Henk (2010): Transient middle Eocene atmospheric CO (sub 2) and temperature variations. American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC, United States, Science, 330 (6005), 819-821, georefid:2011-008029

Abstract:
The long-term warmth of the Eocene ( approximately 56 to 34 million years ago) is commonly associated with elevated partial pressure of atmospheric carbon dioxide (pCO (sub 2) ). However, a direct relationship between the two has not been established for short-term climate perturbations. We reconstructed changes in both pCO (sub 2) and temperature over an episode of transient global warming called the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO; approximately 40 million years ago). Organic molecular paleothermometry indicates a warming of southwest Pacific sea surface temperatures (SSTs) by 3 degrees to 6 degrees C. Reconstructions of pCO (sub 2) indicate a concomitant increase by a factor of 2 to 3. The marked consistency between SST and pCO (sub 2) trends during the MECO suggests that elevated pCO (sub 2) played a major role in global warming during the MECO.
Coverage:
West: 149.5500 East: 149.5600 North: -43.5700 South: -43.5800
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Expedition: 189
Site: 189-1172
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Provider: SEDIS Publication Catalogue
Data set link: http://sedis.iodp.org/pub-catalogue/index.php?id=10.1126/science.1193654 (c.f. for more detailed metadata)
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