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Paleoclimates, ocean depth, and the oxygen isotopic composition of seawater
Open accessAbstract
A recurrent interpretation of ancient climate based on the oxygen isotopic composition of marine carbonates and cherts suggests that Earth's climate was substantially warmer in the distant past and remained so until as recently as 400 Myr ago. This interpretation is difficult to reconcile with the long-term glacial record, with evidence for modest weathering rates during most of Earth's history, with biomarker and fossil evidence for eukaryotes and even vertebrates at times of anomalously low δ18O values, and with the predicted faintness of the young Sun. We argue here, following earlier suggestions, that the low δ18O values in ancient rocks are a consequence of the low δ18O of ancient seawater. A modest increase in ocean depth with time, together with progressive increases in pelagic sedimentation on midocean ridge flanks since about 550 Ma, could account for the variation in seawater isotopic composition. The required change in ocean depth, coupled with thinning of the oceanic crust, is a natural consequence of the decline in heat flow over time. Contrary to previous assertions, such a model is not inconsistent with data from ophiolites. It seems likely that Earth's climate remained largely within Phanerozoic norms throughout the past 3.5 Ga.
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“Two alternative interpretations are as follows: (i) Archean surface temperatures were similar to today’s because the oxygen isotope composition of seawater, δ18Oseawater, increased by ~15‰ since 3.5 Ga ago (229, 230).”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [229]
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“Archean oceans with shallow seafloor hydrothermal circulation and an increase in Phanerozoic pelagic sediments that lowers seafloor weathering might cause secular increase in δ18Oseawater [e.g., (229)].”
From The Archean atmosphere (2020) · cites this paper as [229]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Kasting, J. F., Howard, M. T., Wallmann, K., Veizer, J., Shields, G., & Jaffrés, J.
- Affiliations
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- James Cook University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Kasting, James F.
- Venue
- Earth and Planetary Science Letters
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-11
- Volume
- 252
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 82-93
- ISSN
- 0012-821X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2145685810
- Cited by
- 248
- References
- 71
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 16 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 12.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Earth and Planetary Science Letters (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR) (acceptedVersion)
- ResearchOnline at James Cook University (James Cook University) (submittedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geochemistry and Petrology › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Keywords
- paleoclimate, seawater oxygen isotopes, δ18O, ocean depth, marine carbonates, chert, Phanerozoic climate, ocean heat flux, ophiolite, eukaryotic evolution, paleoclimate models
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