This release supports the findings presented in Li et al., 2024 Nature Geoscience. The study investigates the dramatic shifts in ocean chemistry during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), a rapid climate event 56 million years ago marked by extensive carbon release and ocean acidification.
Through the use of data assimilation, we integrate seafloor sediment CaCO3 and sea surface temperature proxy data with Earth system model simulations, providing a detailed reconstruction of atmospheric CO2 levels, ocean acidification, and carbonate saturation states during the PETM. Our findings reveal a significant rise in atmospheric CO2 concentrations and a concurrent decrease in ocean pH and surface-water calcite saturation.
Key aspects of this release:
- Data and scripts for reconstructing the PETM carbon cycle perturbation
- Assimilated seafloor sediment and temperature proxy data
- Earth system model simulations featuring a comprehensive carbonate system
- Full documentation for reproducing the results
This release aims to provide valuable resources for researchers investigating paleoclimate dynamics, ocean chemistry changes, and carbon cycle feedbacks during extreme climate events.