Volcanic CO2 degassing postdates thermogenic carbon emission during the end-Permian mass extinction

Authors

Yuyang Wu, China University of Geosciences
Ying Cui, Montclair State UniversityFollow
Daoliang Chu, China University of Geosciences
Haijun Song, China University of Geosciences
Jinnan Tong, China University of Geosciences
Jacopo Dal Corso, China University of Geosciences
Andy Ridgwell, University of California, Riverside

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-15-2023

Journal / Book Title

Science Advances

Abstract

Massive carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are widely assumed to be the driver of the end-Permian mass extinction (EPME). However, the rate of and total CO2 released, and whether the source changes with time, remain poorly understood, leaving a key question surrounding the trigger for the EPME unanswered. Here, we assimilate reconstructions of atmospheric PCO2 and carbonate δ¹³C in an Earth system model to unravel the history of carbon emissions and sources across the EPME. We infer a transition from a CO2 source with a thermogenic carbon isotopic signature associated with a slower emission rate to a heavier, more mantle-dominated volcanic source with an increased rate of emissions. This implies that the CO2 degassing style changed as the Siberian Traps emplacement evolved, which is consistent with geochemical proxy records. Carbon cycle feedbacks from terrestrial ecosystem disturbances may have further amplified the warming and the severity of marine extinctions.

Comments

Copyright © 2023 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works. This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial License 4.0 (CC BY-NC).

DOI

10.1126/sciadv.abq4082

Journal ISSN / Book ISBN

85148115133 (Scopus)

MSU Digital Commons Citation

Wu, Yuyang; Cui, Ying; Chu, Daoliang; Song, Haijun; Tong, Jinnan; Corso, Jacopo Dal; and Ridgwell, Andy, "Volcanic CO2 degassing postdates thermogenic carbon emission during the end-Permian mass extinction" (2023). Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 742.
https://digitalcommons.montclair.edu/earth-environ-studies-facpubs/742

Published Citation

Wu, Y., Cui, Y., Chu, D., Song, H., Tong, J., Dal Corso, J., & Ridgwell, A. (2023). Volcanic CO2 degassing postdates thermogenic carbon emission during the end-Permian mass extinction. Science Advances, 9(7), eabq4082.