1. Decoupling of carbonate-organic carbon isotope during the Carnian Pluvial Episode
- Author
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Jia, Enhao, Wu, Kui, Du, Yong, Wu, Yuyang, Wang, Fengyu, Dai, Xu, Song, Huyue, Chu, Daoliang, Zhong, Lei, Yuan, Zhiwei, Chen, Xiangmin, Li, Zhe, and Song, Haijun
- Subjects
Physics - Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Abstract
The Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE) was a major global climate change event in the early Late Triassic that significantly affected marine ecosystems and carbon cycles. One of the most prominent features of the CPE is the coupled multiple negative carbonate-organic carbon isotope excursions. However, at Erguan and Xiashulao from eastern Tethys, a decoupling between carbonate-organic carbon isotope during CPE was observed. At the end of early Carnian (Julian), the carbonate carbon isotope showed a negative excursion of 2-3 per-mille, while the organic carbon isotope exhibited a positive excursion of about 3-4 per-mille. In addition, increased terrestrial inputs is indicated by the rising C/N (3 to 10) and decreasing Y/Ho (42 to 27) that coexist with this decoupling. The coupling of carbon isotope negative excursions is from the shallow shelves and the deep slopes, whereas the decoupling occurs from the deep shelf to the shallow slope. In the deep shelf to the shallow slope, sedimentary organic matter is mainly sourced from pelagic before the CPE as evidenced by low C/N (3) and high Y/Ho (36-42). During the CPE, the increased fresh water flux (Sr/Ba <1) enhanced terrestrial input in organic matter, which may cause positive excursions in the carbon isotope record with elevated TOC content. As a result, the carbonate-organic carbon isotope decoupled. In contrast, organic matter in sediments from the shallow shelf and deep slope are mainly from terrestrial and pelagic sources, respectively. This study reveals the significant impact of terrestrial inputs on marine carbon cycling during the Carnian Pluvial Episode, highlighting the crucial role of climate events in modifying the carbon isotope record., Comment: 49 pages, 10 figures
- Published
- 2024