Ocean acidification and the Permo-Triassic mass extinction

Summary, in English

Ocean acidification triggered by Siberian Trap volcanism was a possible kill mechanism for the Permo-Triassic Boundary mass extinction, but direct evidence for an acidification event is lacking. We present a high-resolution seawater pH record across this interval, using boron isotope data combined with a quantitative modeling approach. In the latest Permian, increased ocean alkalinity primed the Earth system with a low level of atmospheric CO₂ and a high ocean buffering capacity. The first phase of extinction was coincident with a slow injection of carbon into the atmosphere, and ocean pH remained stable. During the second extinction pulse, however, a rapid and large injection of carbon caused an abrupt acidification event that drove the preferential loss of heavily calcified marine biota.

• Författare: M. O. Clarkson; S. A. Kasemann; R. A. Wood; T. M. Lenton; S. J. Daines; S. Richoz; F. Ohnemueller; A. Meixner; S. W. Poulton; E. T. Tipper
• Publiceringsår: 2015-04-10
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 229-232
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Science
• Volym: 348
• Issue: 6231
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aaa0193
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 0036-8075