Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
08:18
Design and Use of a Full Flow Sampling System FFS for the Quantification of Methane Emissions
Published on: June 12, 2016
17.5K
Palaeoceanography: methane release in the Early Jurassic period
Paul B Wignall1, John M McArthur, Crispin T S Little
1School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK. wignall@earth.leeds.ac.uk
Nature
|June 2, 2006
Summary
Early Jurassic warming may not be from methane release. New research suggests rapid carbon isotope shifts could stem from local ocean conditions, not global methane release from clathrates.
Area of Science:
- Paleoclimatology
- Geochemistry
Background:
- The Early Jurassic period experienced significant global warming, potentially linked to methane release from clathrates.
- Kemp et al. identified three sharp delta13C(org) excursions, attributing them to methane release events.
Discussion:
- An alternative explanation proposes these excursions reflect local euxinic basin conditions and recycled isotopically light carbon.
- This hypothesis is supported by a lack of negative delta13C excursions in coeval belemnite rostra.
Key Insights:
- Kemp et al.'s dismissal of the local recycling hypothesis is challenged; their calculations may not apply to restricted epicontinental seaways.
- The proposed recycling of organic carbon in a seaway would not necessitate whole-ocean mixing.
Outlook:
- Further research is needed to differentiate between global methane release and local carbon cycling as drivers of Early Jurassic climate events.
- Re-evaluation of isotopic excursion data in the context of basin-specific oceanography is crucial.
Related Concept Videos
01:50Global Climate Change
28.4K
Throughout its ~4.5 billion year history, the Earth has experienced periods of warming and cooling. However, the current drastic increase in global temperatures is well outside of the Earth’s cyclic norms, and evidence for human-caused global climate change is compelling. Paleoclimatology, the study of ancient climate conditions, provides ample evidence for human-caused global climate change by comparing recent conditions with those in the past.
28.4K
02:06Conditions on Early Earth
100.1K
Around 4 billion years ago, oceans began to condense on earth while volcanic eruptions released nitrogen, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia, and hydrogen into the primordial atmosphere. However, organisms with the characteristics of life were not initially present on earth. Scientists have used experimentation to determine how organisms evolved that could grow, reproduce, and maintain an internal environment.
100.1K
02:35What is Evolutionary History?
42.8K
Scientists record evolutionary history by analyzing fossil, morphological, and genetic data. The fossil record documents the history of life on Earth and provides evidence for evolution. However, both fossil and living organisms offer evidence that outlines Earth’s evolutionary history.
42.8K
02:56The Fossil Record
26.9K
The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...
26.9K
01:29Overview of Archaea
652
Archaea, named after the Archaean eon, represent a unique domain of life, distinct from bacteria and eukaryotes, with remarkable traits. Their cellular and molecular features, ecological adaptability, and industrial relevance highlight their importance in understanding life processes and leveraging biotechnology.Cellular and Molecular CharacteristicsA defining feature of archaea is their unique membrane composition. Archaeal membranes contain ether-linked isoprenoid lipids, which confer...
652
01:30Diversity of Archaea I
443
Archaea, a domain of single-celled microorganisms, are classified into five major phyla based on genetic and biochemical characteristics: Euryarchaeota, Crenarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota, Korarchaeota, and Nanoarchaeota. Among these, the phylum Euryarchaeota is notable for its remarkable diversity in morphology, metabolism, and ecological adaptations.Morphological and Metabolic DiversityMembers of Euryarchaeota exhibit a variety of cellular shapes, including rods and cocci. Their metabolic pathways...
443