Paleoceanography

Question 1

What is a supercycle?

Answer 1

Moving from an icehouce to greenhouse

Question 2

What is the furthest back we can date our oceans?

Answer 2

600 million years

Question 3

Describe this curve

Answer 3

Curve is based on O18 (oceans get a little heavier during cold periods because O16 is stored in ice sheets)

• If you have more 18 O in the sample then you will end up with a positive number
• If you have less 18 O in the sample then you will end up with a negative number

Question 4

What does PETM stand for?

Answer 4

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

Question 5

What is a notable characteristic about the PETM time frame?

Answer 5

1. Really hot
2. In records, this is the time where you can see major excursions
3. More C12 and O16
4. Very short lived

Question 6

What was the main driver behind the PETM?

Answer 6

Photosynthesis

Question 7

What is the definition of Methane Hydrates?

Answer 7

frozen methane – produced through photosynthesis and decomposition of organic matter where the methane at cold temperature (bottom waters on continental shelf ) store this methane.

Question 8

Describe the Clathrate Gun Hypothesis

Answer 8

• Water temperatures rise -> warm water reaches down to the bottom -> penetrates the shallow sediments -> warms them up and then they bubble -> converts to gracious methane