Abrupt Ocean Acidification Events
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Southampton
Department Name: Sch of Ocean and Earth Science
Abstract
See Cardiff Submission
Organisations
Publications
Anagnostou E
(2016)
Changing atmospheric CO2 concentration was the primary driver of early Cenozoic climate.
in Nature
Anagnostou E
(2019)
Calibration of the pH-d11B and temperature-Mg/Li proxies in the long-lived high-latitude crustose coralline red alga Clathromorphum compactum via controlled laboratory experiments
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Aze T
(2014)
Extreme warming of tropical waters during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum
in Geology
Edgar K
(2015)
Assessing the impact of diagenesis on d11B, d13C, d18O, Sr/Ca and B/Ca values in fossil planktic foraminiferal calcite
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Gibbs S
(2012)
Scaled biotic disruption during early Eocene global warming events
in Biogeosciences
Gutjahr M
(2017)
Very large release of mostly volcanic carbon during the Palaeocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum
in Nature
Henehan M
(2017)
Size-dependent response of foraminiferal calcification to seawater carbonate chemistry
in Biogeosciences
Henehan M
(2015)
Evaluating the utility of B / C a ratios in planktic foraminifera as a proxy for the carbonate system: A case study of G lobigerinoides ruber
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Hönisch B
(2012)
The geological record of ocean acidification.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
| Description | The geological record is rich in examples of climate states and there are a number of abrupt warming and acidification events from which we can draw many parallels with anthropogenic climate change. Although no geological event is as rapid as the current "experiment" we have gained key insights here into how the Earth system works from studying these events. Specifically, we have found that (i) that it was ocean warming that is the key driver of biotic change across the Palaeocene-Eocene thermal Maximum (PETM); (ii) ocean pH and CO2 change was large and rapid across the PETM and middle Eocene Climatic Optimum; (iii) ocean warming was extreme during the PETM; (iv) future pH levels are possibly unprecedented in the last 23 million years. |
| Exploitation Route | We provide essential boundary conditions for several Eocene hyperthermals, these will prove invaluable for future data-model comparisons (e.g. DeepMIP as part of the CMIP; http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/projects?ref=NE/N006828/1). We also provide the natural baseline for studies of the impact of future ocean acidification. |
| Sectors | Environment |
| Description | This research has contributed to the knowledge base regarding the causes and consequences of climate change. It has also directly fed into the latest IPCC report (of which PI Foster was a contributing author) The research also underpinned a Royal Society Discussion meeting held in September 2017 (http://www.thefosterlab.org/blog/2018/9/4/hyperthermals-insights-into-our-warm-future-from-past-rapid-changes-in-climate) |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Environment |
| Impact Types | Policy & public services |
| Description | Public Engagement |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Following the publication of Gutjahr et al. 2017 in Nature we engaged with the public through the media. Including a piece in the guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/aug/30/volcanic-eruptions-triggered-global-warming-56m-years-ago-study-reveals), BBC radio (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3cstzrq) and the Conversation (https://theconversation.com/volcanic-emissions-caused-the-warmest-period-in-past-56m-years-new-study-82354). The latter has nearly 3000 reads. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Royal Society Discussion Meeting on hyperthermals |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We held a Royal Society discussion and satellite meeting on Hyperthermals: rapid and extreme global warming in our geological past. The meeting was open to the public and we had over 100 attendees. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2017/09/hyperthermals/ |