HR: 0800h
AN: PP11A-0228    [Abstracts]
TI: The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum-central east Greenland flood basalts Connection?
AU: * Heister, L E
EM: leheister@ualr.edu
AF: University of Arkansas, Little Rock, 2801 S. University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72204-1009, United States
AU: Lesher, C E
EM: lesher@geology.ucdavis.edu
AF: University of California, Davis, Department of Geology One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8605, United States
AU: Renne, P R
EM: prenne@bgc.org
AF: Berkeley Geochronology Center, 2455 Ridge Road, Berkeley, CA 94709, United States
AB: Synchronicity of the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) at 55.5 Ma and voluminous eruption of the of the central east Greenland (CEG) flood basalts has lead authors to find a causal relationship between these two events. However, age constraints within the thick CEG volcanic succession are spare and often are associated with large uncertainties or based on samples with poor stratigraphic control. Based on new Ar-Ar ages combined with chemostratigraphic relationships within the CEG succession, we constrain the timing of the PETM to a restricted portion of the CEG volcanic stratigraphy with the Geike Plateau Formation. As such the PETM occurs at the height of effusive volcanism and limited pyroclastic activity. The outpouring of large volumes of basaltic magma by fissure-fed eruptions could have contributed large volumes of SO2 to the atmosphere, likely contributing to cooling, rather than global warming as recorded by the PETM. Likewise, there is no evidence for CO2-rich volcanism in CEG flood basalt province at this time to contribute significant greenhouse gases. We suggest that although these two geologic events are synchronous, they may be coincidental.
DE: 1100 GEOCHRONOLOGY
DE: 1605 Abrupt/rapid climate change (4901, 8408)
DE: 3037 Oceanic hotspots and intraplate volcanism
DE: 8400 VOLCANOLOGY
SC: Paleoceanography and Paleoclimatology [PP]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting