2012/01/23 by A. Winguth, Ellen Thomas, C. Winguth · 2 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Geology and Paleoclimatology Research #Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils #Marine Biology and Ecology Research
paper · doi:10.1130/g32529.1
openalex publication_date 2012/01/23 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/05
Research Article| March 01, 2012 Global decline in ocean ventilation, oxygenation, and productivity during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum: Implications for the benthic extinction Arne M.E. Winguth; Arne M.E. Winguth 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas at Arlington, 500 Yates Street, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ellen Thomas; Ellen Thomas 2Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, P.O. Box 208109, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8109, USA, and Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut 06459, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Cornelia Winguth Cornelia Winguth 1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas at Arlington, 500 Yates Street, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2012) 40 (3): 263–266. https://doi.org/10.1130/G32529.1 Article history received: 05 Jun 2011 rev-recd: 11 Oct 2011 accepted: 18 Oct 2011 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Arne M.E. Winguth, Ellen Thomas, Cornelia Winguth; Global decline in ocean ventilation, oxygenation, and productivity during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum: Implications for the benthic extinction. Geology 2012;; 40 (3): 263–266. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G32529.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The prominent global warming event at the Paleocene-Eocene boundary (55 Ma), referred to as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), was characterized by rapid temperature increase and changes in the global carbon cycle in <10,000 yr, and a major extinction of benthic foraminifera. We explore potential causes of this extinction in response to environmental changes linked to a massive carbon injection by comparing sedimentary records with results from a comprehensive climate–carbon cycle model, and infer that an increase in oceanic vertical temperature gradients and stratification led to decreased productivity and oxygen depletion in the deep sea. Globally, productivity diminished particularly in the equatorial zone by weakening of the trades and hence upwelling, leading to a decline in food supply for benthic organisms. In contrast, near the Ross Sea, export of organic matter into the deep sea was enhanced due to increased near-surface mixing related to a positive salinity anomaly caused by a rise in wind-driven vertical mixing, contributing to the depletion of the deep-sea oxygen concentration, combined with a sluggish deep-sea circulation. The extinction of deep-sea benthic foraminifera at the PETM thus was probably caused by multiple environmental changes, including decreased carbonate saturation and ocean acidification, lowered oxygen levels, and a globally reduced food supply, all related to a massive carbon injection. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.