New research on the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum used probabilistic analysis to learn more about its duration and how long modern warming could affect the carbon cycle.
isotopes
Isotopes Unearth History of Earthquakes in the Apennines
Dating of cosmogenic chlorine isotopes yields long-term estimates of fault activity in Italy, showing that periods of earthquakes and quiescence alternate over millennia.
Taking Our Paleoceanographic Tools to the Next Level
A new modeling study shows that to accurately interpret data derived from an iconic proxy of past Atlantic overturning strength, we must consider the complex factors governing the proxy systematics.
Hawai’i’s Depleted Peridotite Delivers More Magma
The source for the isotopically-enriched Hawaiian magmas contains peridotites that experienced near-surface melting prior incorporation in the plume.
Getting to the Bottom of Cenozoic Deep-Ocean Temperatures
Reconstructing past ocean conditions with oxygen isotopes could provide more information about how Earth’s climate evolved over time, but methods for reconstructing these data can yield varying results.
Clumped CO Isotopes – New Tracers for Atmospheric Chemistry
A new study reports the first measurements of 13C18O in atmospheric carbon monoxide (CO) and show their variations reflect chemical ‘aging’ consistent with predicted kinetic isotope effects.
Tracking a Disappearing Mantle Plume in Ancient Samoa
A thick portion of Earth’s crust may have capped the Samoan plume and suppressed volcanism for 30 million years, explaining a curious gap along the Samoan chain.