CO sub(2)-Forced Climate and Vegetation Instability During Late Paleozoic Deglaciation

The late Paleozoic deglaciation is the vegetated Earth's only recorded icehouse-to-greenhouse transition, yet the climate dynamics remain enigmatic. By using the stable isotopic compositions of soil-formed minerals, fossil-plant matter, and shallow-water brachiopods, we estimated atmospheric pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2007-01, Vol.315 (5808), p.87-91
Main Authors: Montanez, Isabel P, Tabor, Neil J, Niemeier, Deb, DiMichele, William A, Frank, Tracy D, Fielding, Christopher R, Isbell, John L, Birgenheier, Lauren P, Rygel, Michael C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brachiopoda
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Summary:The late Paleozoic deglaciation is the vegetated Earth's only recorded icehouse-to-greenhouse transition, yet the climate dynamics remain enigmatic. By using the stable isotopic compositions of soil-formed minerals, fossil-plant matter, and shallow-water brachiopods, we estimated atmospheric partial pressure of carbon dioxide (pCO sub(2)) and tropical marine surface temperatures during this climate transition. Comparison to southern Gondwanan glacial records documents covariance between inferred shifts in pCO sub(2), temperature, and ice volume consistent with greenhouse gas forcing of climate. Major restructuring of paleotropical flora in western Euramerica occurred in step with climate and pCO sub(2) shifts, illustrating the biotic impact associated with past CO sub(2)-forced turnover to a permanent ice-free world.
ISSN:0036-8075
DOI:10.1126/science.1134207