Ocean circulation and carbon cycling during Eocene 'greenhouse' warmth
Lead Research Organisation:
The Open University
Department Name: Environment, Earth & Ecosystems
Abstract
Ocean circulation strongly influences climate by poleward transport of heat and salt. The Pleistocene deep-sea sediment record shows that ocean circulation can drive global climate via switches in the hemisphere dominating ocean overturning (the 'bipolar seesaw' of millennial-scale Dansgaard-Oeschger climate cycles) and via its role in storage and release of carbon dioxide (e.g. across glacial-interglacial cycles). However, what is not known is how sensitive ocean circulation is to radically different levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Man-made CO2 emissions are projected to elevate atmospheric concentrations of this greenhouse gas to levels that, by the end of this century, will be higher than at any time since the Eocene epoch. Yet there are virtually no appropriate data from the Eocene with which to test the nature and stability of ocean circulation during such 'greenhouse' climate regimes characterized by high CO2 levels, minimal continental ice volume and contrasting modes of carbon cycling.
This work aims to reconstruct the global configuration and relative strength of ocean circulation through key intervals of the early and middle Eocene. I will use deep sea sediment sequences recovered by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program from the Newfoundland margin, in addition to a series of locations worldwide. Stable oxygen and carbon isotope analyses of benthic foraminiferal calcite will provide robust correlations between sediment sequences worldwide and a proxy for reconstructing ocean circulation patterns. Neodymium isotope analyses of planktic foraminiferal diagenetic coatings and of the fluorapatite of fish teeth will provide independent tools for reconstructing changes in ocean circulation.
This work aims to reconstruct the global configuration and relative strength of ocean circulation through key intervals of the early and middle Eocene. I will use deep sea sediment sequences recovered by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program from the Newfoundland margin, in addition to a series of locations worldwide. Stable oxygen and carbon isotope analyses of benthic foraminiferal calcite will provide robust correlations between sediment sequences worldwide and a proxy for reconstructing ocean circulation patterns. Neodymium isotope analyses of planktic foraminiferal diagenetic coatings and of the fluorapatite of fish teeth will provide independent tools for reconstructing changes in ocean circulation.
Planned Impact
"No impact plan needed" - Sasha Leigh
Organisations
- The Open University (Lead Research Organisation)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (Collaboration)
- University of Utah (Collaboration)
- University of Bremen (Collaboration)
- Heidelberg University (Collaboration)
- Yale University (Collaboration)
- Utrecht University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
| Philip Sexton (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Anagnostou E
(2020)
Proxy evidence for state-dependence of climate sensitivity in the Eocene greenhouse.
in Nature communications
Boulila S
(2018)
Towards a robust and consistent middle Eocene astronomical timescale
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Boyle P
(2017)
Cenozoic North Atlantic deep circulation history recorded in contourite drifts, offshore Newfoundland, Canada
in Marine Geology
Cameron A
(2014)
Strengthening of North Atlantic deep water production from the Norwegian-Greenland Sea at onset of the Eocene cooling trend
in Rendiconti online della Società Geologica Italiana
Cameron, A.
(2014)
The Neodymium isotopic signature of Northern Atlantic deep waters during the early Eocene 'greenhouse'
in Geological Society of London Geochemistry Group Research in Progress Meeting
Friedrich O
(2015)
Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts: transition from the Paleogene greenhouse to the modern icehouse
in Scientific Drilling
Hull PM
(2020)
On impact and volcanism across the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary.
in Science (New York, N.Y.)
Hull, P.M.
(2014)
Resolving Eocene time and palaeoceanography in exceptional detail: an update on IODP Expedition 342, Newfoundland Ridge
in Climate and Biota of the Early Paleogene
Leutert T
(2019)
Sensitivity of clumped isotope temperatures in fossil benthic and planktic foraminifera to diagenetic alteration
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
| Description | We have tested long-standing assumptions of ocean circulation during extreme climatic warmth and shown a previously unrecognised importance of active N. Atlantic deep water in Eocene global ocean overturning (& onset 20 Myr earlier than previously thought). |
| Exploitation Route | We are using the sediment sequences recovered by IODP Expedition 342 to radically improve our understanding of the dynamics of biogeochemical processes during warmer-than-modern climate states. These spectacular sediment sequences are forming a crucial part of this dynamics-focused understanding of warm climates via a novel methodological focus on the dynamical interrelationship of variables at short geological timescales. This is being achieved by the detailed application of Pleistocene-type palaeoclimatic approaches to 'deeper time' climates. |
| Sectors | Education,Energy,Environment |
| Description | Deep Ocean Temperatures in the PALEOgene Greenhouse World |
| Amount | kr 12,205,000 (NOK) |
| Organisation | Research Council of Norway |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Norway |
| Start | 08/2020 |
| End | 08/2024 |
| Description | ECORD research grant |
| Amount | € 3,000 (EUR) |
| Organisation | European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 06/2014 |
| End | 06/2016 |
| Description | SWEET: Super-Warm Early Eocene Temperatures and climate: understanding the response of the Earth to high CO2 through integrated modelling and data |
| Amount | £108,417 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NE/P019331/1 |
| Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2017 |
| End | 09/2022 |
| Description | New IODP proposal 'Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts' |
| Organisation | Heidelberg University |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-proponent, IODP Proposal 874-full - "Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts: transition from the Paleogene greenhouse to the modern icehouse" |
| Collaborator Contribution | We followed the success of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 342 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/newfoundland_sediment_drifts.html) by co-authoring another drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. This proposal received positive reviews from peer reviewers and the panel, has recently been promoted to the IODP 'scheduling pool' and is to be scheduled when the drilling ship next re-enters the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Impact | A drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | New IODP proposal 'Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts' |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-proponent, IODP Proposal 874-full - "Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts: transition from the Paleogene greenhouse to the modern icehouse" |
| Collaborator Contribution | We followed the success of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 342 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/newfoundland_sediment_drifts.html) by co-authoring another drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. This proposal received positive reviews from peer reviewers and the panel, has recently been promoted to the IODP 'scheduling pool' and is to be scheduled when the drilling ship next re-enters the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Impact | A drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | New IODP proposal 'Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts' |
| Organisation | University of Bremen |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-proponent, IODP Proposal 874-full - "Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts: transition from the Paleogene greenhouse to the modern icehouse" |
| Collaborator Contribution | We followed the success of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 342 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/newfoundland_sediment_drifts.html) by co-authoring another drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. This proposal received positive reviews from peer reviewers and the panel, has recently been promoted to the IODP 'scheduling pool' and is to be scheduled when the drilling ship next re-enters the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Impact | A drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | New IODP proposal 'Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts' |
| Organisation | University of California, San Diego (UCSD) |
| Department | Scripps Institution of Oceanography |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-proponent, IODP Proposal 874-full - "Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts: transition from the Paleogene greenhouse to the modern icehouse" |
| Collaborator Contribution | We followed the success of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 342 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/newfoundland_sediment_drifts.html) by co-authoring another drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. This proposal received positive reviews from peer reviewers and the panel, has recently been promoted to the IODP 'scheduling pool' and is to be scheduled when the drilling ship next re-enters the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Impact | A drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | New IODP proposal 'Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts' |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-proponent, IODP Proposal 874-full - "Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts: transition from the Paleogene greenhouse to the modern icehouse" |
| Collaborator Contribution | We followed the success of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 342 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/newfoundland_sediment_drifts.html) by co-authoring another drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. This proposal received positive reviews from peer reviewers and the panel, has recently been promoted to the IODP 'scheduling pool' and is to be scheduled when the drilling ship next re-enters the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Impact | A drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | New IODP proposal 'Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts' |
| Organisation | University of Southampton |
| Department | Ocean and Earth Science |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-proponent, IODP Proposal 874-full - "Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts: transition from the Paleogene greenhouse to the modern icehouse" |
| Collaborator Contribution | We followed the success of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 342 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/newfoundland_sediment_drifts.html) by co-authoring another drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. This proposal received positive reviews from peer reviewers and the panel, has recently been promoted to the IODP 'scheduling pool' and is to be scheduled when the drilling ship next re-enters the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Impact | A drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | New IODP proposal 'Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts' |
| Organisation | University of Utah |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-proponent, IODP Proposal 874-full - "Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts: transition from the Paleogene greenhouse to the modern icehouse" |
| Collaborator Contribution | We followed the success of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 342 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/newfoundland_sediment_drifts.html) by co-authoring another drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. This proposal received positive reviews from peer reviewers and the panel, has recently been promoted to the IODP 'scheduling pool' and is to be scheduled when the drilling ship next re-enters the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Impact | A drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | New IODP proposal 'Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts' |
| Organisation | Utrecht University |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-proponent, IODP Proposal 874-full - "Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts: transition from the Paleogene greenhouse to the modern icehouse" |
| Collaborator Contribution | We followed the success of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 342 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/newfoundland_sediment_drifts.html) by co-authoring another drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. This proposal received positive reviews from peer reviewers and the panel, has recently been promoted to the IODP 'scheduling pool' and is to be scheduled when the drilling ship next re-enters the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Impact | A drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | New IODP proposal 'Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts' |
| Organisation | Yale University |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Co-proponent, IODP Proposal 874-full - "Newfoundland Neogene sediment drifts: transition from the Paleogene greenhouse to the modern icehouse" |
| Collaborator Contribution | We followed the success of Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 342 (http://iodp.tamu.edu/scienceops/expeditions/newfoundland_sediment_drifts.html) by co-authoring another drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. This proposal received positive reviews from peer reviewers and the panel, has recently been promoted to the IODP 'scheduling pool' and is to be scheduled when the drilling ship next re-enters the Atlantic Ocean. |
| Impact | A drilling proposal (IODP #874) for a second expedition to target the expanded younger Neogene sedimentary successions across the Newfoundland margin. |
| Start Year | 2014 |