Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 triggered by Kerguelen volcanism.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 38879504.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-49032-3 and PMC identifier 11180104.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) are associated with global warming and carbon cycle perturbations during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2, ~94 Ma) and the Mid-Cenomanian Event (MCE, ~96.5 Ma). However, there is still no consensus on the role volcanism played as a trigger, or its source - previously ascribed to the Caribbean LIP or High Arctic LIP. Here, we use Mentelle Basin sedimentary mercury (Hg) concentrations to determine the timing of volcanism, and neodymium (Nd) and strontium (Sr) isotopes for sedimentary provenance. High Hg concentrations compared to Northern Hemisphere records, and a shift to radiogenic Nd isotopes, indicates Kerguelen LIP volcanic activity and plateau uplift occurred in the lead up to and within OAE2. Whilst we find limited evidence that a volcanic event caused the MCE, pulsed Hg spikes before and during OAE2 imply volcanic emissions were key in driving climate and carbon cycle changes and triggering OAE2.