Mechanisms and time relationships of rapid climate change during the Lower Aptian OAE 1a in the southeastern North Atlantic: Gas hydrate deterioration?

• Applicant: Dr. Peter Hofmann
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2006 to 2010
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 28791407

A key mechanism which controls rapid climate change during greenhouse periods of Mesozoic climate system is the catastrophic release of methane from gas hydrates to the oceanic and atmospheric carbon reservoirs. Excess CO2 liberated from gas hydrate desiccation is expected to result in the intensification of greenhouse conditions leading to an acceleration of the hydrological cycle, intensified weathering conditions, an elevated supply of nutrients to the ocean and extensive black shale deposition. In this project we intend to investigate the chain of processes induced by the rapid injection of CO2 to the atmosphereocean system exemplified by Oceanic Anoxic Event la (OAE la), in order to elucidate the feedback mechanisms and time relationships of the atmosphere-continent-ocean system. We propose to conduct a multi-proxy, high resolution study of OAE la at the Galicia Margin based on OOP Hole 641C .

• DFG Programme: Infrastructure Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 527: Bereich Infrastruktur - "International Ocean Discovery Program" (IODP)
• International Connection: Netherlands, United Kingdom
• Participating Persons: Dr. Jaap S. Sinninghe Damsté; Professor Dr. Thomas Wagner