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

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...

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Main Authors: Xiangdong Zhao, Naihua Xue, Hu Yang, Daran Zheng, Jungang Peng, Joost Frieling, David De Vleeschouwer, Xuewu Fu, Wanglu Jia, Yanan Fang, Sha Li, Meng Wang, Xianye Zhao, Qiang Wang, Haichun Zhang, Jingeng Sha, Hugh C. Jenkyns, Philippe Claeys, Bo Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61262-7
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author Xiangdong Zhao
Naihua Xue
Hu Yang
Daran Zheng
Jungang Peng
Joost Frieling
David De Vleeschouwer
Xuewu Fu
Wanglu Jia
Yanan Fang
Sha Li
Meng Wang
Xianye Zhao
Qiang Wang
Haichun Zhang
Jingeng Sha
Hugh C. Jenkyns
Philippe Claeys
Bo Wang
author_facet Xiangdong Zhao
Naihua Xue
Hu Yang
Daran Zheng
Jungang Peng
Joost Frieling
David De Vleeschouwer
Xuewu Fu
Wanglu Jia
Yanan Fang
Sha Li
Meng Wang
Xianye Zhao
Qiang Wang
Haichun Zhang
Jingeng Sha
Hugh C. Jenkyns
Philippe Claeys
Bo Wang
author_sort Xiangdong Zhao
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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institution DOAJ
issn 2041-1723
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-77a40478ebed4571b3a492ba1cc2a1422025-08-20T03:03:25ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-06-0116111110.1038/s41467-025-61262-7Climate–carbon-cycle interactions and spatial heterogeneity of the late Triassic Carnian pluvial episodeXiangdong Zhao0Naihua Xue1Hu Yang2Daran Zheng3Jungang Peng4Joost Frieling5David De Vleeschouwer6Xuewu Fu7Wanglu Jia8Yanan Fang9Sha Li10Meng Wang11Xianye Zhao12Qiang Wang13Haichun Zhang14Jingeng Sha15Hugh C. Jenkyns16Philippe Claeys17Bo Wang18State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesArchaeology, Environmental changes & Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit BrusselSouthern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai)State Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of OxfordInstitute of Geology and Palaeontology, University of MünsterState Key Lab of Environment Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesArchaeology, Environmental changes & Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit BrusselAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine ResearchState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesDepartment of Earth Sciences, University of OxfordArchaeology, Environmental changes & Geo-Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit BrusselState Key Laboratory of Palaeobiology and Stratigraphy, Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract 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.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61262-7
spellingShingle Xiangdong Zhao
Naihua Xue
Hu Yang
Daran Zheng
Jungang Peng
Joost Frieling
David De Vleeschouwer
Xuewu Fu
Wanglu Jia
Yanan Fang
Sha Li
Meng Wang
Xianye Zhao
Qiang Wang
Haichun Zhang
Jingeng Sha
Hugh C. Jenkyns
Philippe Claeys
Bo Wang
Climate–carbon-cycle interactions and spatial heterogeneity of the late Triassic Carnian pluvial episode
Nature Communications
title Climate–carbon-cycle interactions and spatial heterogeneity of the late Triassic Carnian pluvial episode
title_full Climate–carbon-cycle interactions and spatial heterogeneity of the late Triassic Carnian pluvial episode
title_fullStr Climate–carbon-cycle interactions and spatial heterogeneity of the late Triassic Carnian pluvial episode
title_full_unstemmed Climate–carbon-cycle interactions and spatial heterogeneity of the late Triassic Carnian pluvial episode
title_short Climate–carbon-cycle interactions and spatial heterogeneity of the late Triassic Carnian pluvial episode
title_sort climate carbon cycle interactions and spatial heterogeneity of the late triassic carnian pluvial episode
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61262-7
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