Nicolo, Micah J.; Dickens, Gerald R.; Hollis, Christopher J. (2010): South Pacific intermediate water oxygen depletion at the onset of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum as depicted in New Zealand margin sections. American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, United States, Paleoceanography, 25 (4), georefid:2013-034383

Abstract:
Extreme global warming and massive input of (super 13) C-depleted carbon into the exogenic carbon cycle characterize the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) circa 55.5 Ma. Previous work indicates that dissolved O (sub 2) concentrations dropped in some regions of the ocean during this event, but spatial, temporal, and causal relationships between warming, carbon input, and O (sub 2) deficiency remain elusive. We present lithologic, carbon isotopic, and trace fossil results from outcrops in New Zealand that clarify this issue. Sections exposed at Mead and Dee Streams in eastern Marlborough, South Island, contain expanded sedimentary intervals that were deposited before, during, and after the PETM on an upper continental slope. The PETM in these intervals is characterized by enhanced siliciclastic deposition, a hallmark negative carbon isotope excursion, and a loss of bioturbation. Importantly, however, the latter only occurs during the prominent drop in delta (super 13) C and not during its recovery. Our results suggest that South Pacific intermediate waters became hypoxic coincident to carbon injection at the start of the PETM. While higher sea surface temperatures throughout the PETM would have decreased the dissolved oxygen content of sinking surface waters, we argue here that oxygen depletion was driven by some combination of elevated temperature, water column stratification, and intermediate water methane oxidation.
Coverage:
West: 1.1218 East: 158.3100 North: 32.4000 South: -65.0938
Relations:
Expedition: 113
Site: 113-690
Expedition: 198
Site: 198-1209
Data access:
Provider: SEDIS Publication Catalogue
Data set link: http://sedis.iodp.org/pub-catalogue/index.php?id=10.1029/2009PA001904 (c.f. for more detailed metadata)
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