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Climate–carbon-cycle interactions and spatial heterogeneity of the late Triassic Carnian pluvial episode

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  • Xiangdong Zhao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Naihua Xue

    (Vrije Universiteit Brussel
    University of Münster)

  • Hu Yang

    (Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai))

  • Daran Zheng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jungang Peng

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Joost Frieling

    (University of Oxford)

  • David Vleeschouwer

    (University of Münster)

  • Xuewu Fu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Wanglu Jia

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yanan Fang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Sha Li

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Meng Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xianye Zhao

    (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

  • Qiang Wang

    (Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Haichun Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jingeng Sha

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hugh C. Jenkyns

    (University of Oxford)

  • Philippe Claeys

    (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)

  • Bo Wang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE; 234–232 million years ago) is an iconic but poorly understood hyperthermal event. Here, we present an integrated high-resolution (~2–10 kyr) multi-proxy record from a Carnian lacustrine succession of the Junggar Basin of northwestern China. We find that the rapid CPE onset (~15.8 kyr) could have been the result of volcanism and subsequent surface carbon-cycle feedbacks. The CPE terrestrial carbon cycling, at a scale of ± 1‰ (δ13Corg), displays an in-phase relationship with the 405-kyr-long-eccentricity parameter, paralleling the warmhouse climate–carbon-cycle interactions throughout the Oligo–Miocene. The CPE hydrological cycle was typified by increased aridification in continental interiors and multiple precipitation centres at low-latitude eastern regions of Pangea and at the poles. The carbon and hydrological cycle changes of the CPE include features reminiscent of other warm events, suggesting they may share key characteristics and hold important clues to Earth system functioning.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiangdong Zhao & Naihua Xue & Hu Yang & Daran Zheng & Jungang Peng & Joost Frieling & David Vleeschouwer & Xuewu Fu & Wanglu Jia & Yanan Fang & Sha Li & Meng Wang & Xianye Zhao & Qiang Wang & Haichun , 2025. "Climate–carbon-cycle interactions and spatial heterogeneity of the late Triassic Carnian pluvial episode," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-61262-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61262-7
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