Weddell Sea Stable Isotope Data for the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

Stable isotope (d13C and d18O) measurements from the Weddell Sea provide a chemical record of ocean conditions during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, a major ancient global warming event. The dataset is archived by NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information under its World Data Service for Paleoclimatology. The exact temporal coverage and data volume are detailed in the study's metadata.

Use Cases

• Analyzing d13C and d18O isotope shifts to reconstruct changes in ocean temperature and carbon cycling during the PETM.
• Correlating Weddell Sea isotopic records with other global proxy datasets to assess the spatial pattern of the PETM.
• Using the d18O measurements as a paleothermometer proxy to estimate sea surface or bottom water temperatures for the South Atlantic region.
• Investigating the rate and magnitude of d13C change to constrain carbon release scenarios and ocean acidification during the event.

Strengths

• Data captures a key paleoclimate proxy (stable isotopes) for a globally significant hyperthermal event.
• Archived by the authoritative NOAA NCEI World Data Service for Paleoclimatology, ensuring long-term preservation.

Limitations

• Specific row count, temporal range in years, and sampling resolution are unavailable from the provided description.
• Geographic coverage is limited to the Weddell Sea region of the South Atlantic Ocean.

Provenance

Source

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) World Data Service for Paleoclimatology.

Collection Method

null

Time Range

From an unavailable begin date to an unavailable end date (calendar years BP), covering the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum period.

Freshness

null

Geography

South Atlantic Ocean, specifically the Weddell Sea.