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Assessing the importance of thermogenic degassing from the Karoo Large Igneous Province (LIP) in driving Toarcian carbon cycle perturbations

Author

Listed:
  • Thea H. Heimdal

    (University of Oslo)

  • Yves Goddéris

    (Géosciences-Environnement Toulouse, CNRS-Université Paul Sabatier)

  • Morgan T. Jones

    (University of Oslo)

  • Henrik H. Svensen

    (University of Oslo)

Abstract

The emplacement of the Karoo Large Igneous Province (LIP) occurred synchronously with the Toarcian crisis (ca. 183 Ma), which is characterized by major carbon cycle perturbations. A marked increase in the atmospheric concentration of CO2 (pCO2) attests to significant input of carbon, while negative carbon isotope excursions (CIEs) in marine and terrestrial records suggest the involvement of a 12C-enriched source. Here we explore the effects of pulsed carbon release from the Karoo LIP on atmospheric pCO2 and δ13C of marine sediments, using the GEOCLIM carbon cycle model. We show that a total of 20,500 Gt C replicates the Toarcian pCO2 and δ13C proxy data, and that thermogenic carbon (δ13C of −36 ‰) represents a plausible source for the observed negative CIEs. Importantly, an extremely isotopically depleted carbon source, such as methane clathrates, is not required in order to replicate the negative CIEs. Although exact values of individual degassing pulses represent estimates, we consider our emission scenario realistic as it incorporates the available geological knowledge of the Karoo LIP and a representative framework for Earth system processes during the Toarcian.

Suggested Citation

  • Thea H. Heimdal & Yves Goddéris & Morgan T. Jones & Henrik H. Svensen, 2021. "Assessing the importance of thermogenic degassing from the Karoo Large Igneous Province (LIP) in driving Toarcian carbon cycle perturbations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-26467-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26467-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jennifer C. McElwain & Jessica Wade-Murphy & Stephen P. Hesselbo, 2005. "Changes in carbon dioxide during an oceanic anoxic event linked to intrusion into Gondwana coals," Nature, Nature, vol. 435(7041), pages 479-482, May.
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    3. Stephen P. Hesselbo & Darren R. Gröcke & Hugh C. Jenkyns & Christian J. Bjerrum & Paul Farrimond & Helen S. Morgans Bell & Owen R. Green, 2000. "Massive dissociation of gas hydrate during a Jurassic oceanic anoxic event," Nature, Nature, vol. 406(6794), pages 392-395, July.
    4. David B. Kemp & Angela L. Coe & Anthony S. Cohen & Lorenz Schwark, 2005. "Astronomical pacing of methane release in the Early Jurassic period," Nature, Nature, vol. 437(7057), pages 396-399, September.
    5. Stephen M. Jones & Murray Hoggett & Sarah E. Greene & Tom Dunkley Jones, 2019. "Large Igneous Province thermogenic greenhouse gas flux could have initiated Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, December.
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