Response of Deep Ocean Carbon Cycling to Astronomical Forcing in the Non-Glaciated Eocene 'Greenhouse' World
Abstract
Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations predicted for 2100 may not have existed on Earth since the early part of the Eocene epoch when global conditions were much warmer and less glaciated than today. Yet our understanding of carbon cycling and climate stability within the Eocene is extremely rudimentary. Here we present the first high-resolution paleoceanographic records across the early to middle Eocene boundary. Our records reveal multiple prominent perturbations to Eocene climate and the carbon cycle. We also observe breakdown in the post-Eocene/Oligocene boundary spatial pattern of astronomical pacing of deep ocean sediment calcium carbonate content. We attribute this divergent response to astronomical forcing to the deglaciated early Eocene climate state.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2007
- Bibcode:
- 2007AGUFMPP41B0548S
- Keywords:
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- 4806 Carbon cycling (0428);
- 4901 Abrupt/rapid climate change (1605);
- 4910 Astronomical forcing;
- 4930 Greenhouse gases