Andre
May29-08, 06:16 AM
At random intervals, the Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum of about 55 million years ago pops up in these threads like this (http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=192053).
I have been arguing here (http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=148461) that following big tectonic events, the oceans may have dramatically redistrubuted, causing massive sea floor methane hydrate release events.
I should have payed better attention to the publications, this (http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;316/5824/587) has been around quite a while:
Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum and the Opening of the Northeast Atlantic
Michael Storey, Robert A. Duncan, Carl C. Swisher,
.....The relative age of Danish Ash-17 thus places the PETM onset after the beginning of massive flood basalt volcanism at 56.1 ± 0.4 million years ago but within error of the estimated continental breakup time of 55.5 ± 0.3 million years ago, marked by the eruption of mid-ocean ridge basalt–like flows.....
Hence the tectonic element is covered now.
More recently this (http://www.science.usyd.edu.au/news/pdf/whittaker.pdf) popped up:
Press Release 9/10/07
By Joanne Whittaker and Dietmar Müller, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney
APEC countries share common geological history
A previously unknown geological connection between Australia, Antarctica and the Pacific rim has been revealed by an international team led by a University of Sydney group. Joanne Whittaker, PhD student, A/Prof Dietmar Müller, of the School of Geosciences, and colleagues have written of the discovery in the Science magazine.
“The cause of a major change in the motion of the Pacific plate has long puzzled scientists. We have found that the destruction of an entire mid-ocean ridge, known as the Izanagi Ridge, 50 million years ago in the Pacific Ocean initiated a chain reaction of geological events from Hawaii to Antarctica”....cont'd
Since an earlier date for that event was estimated 43 million years ago, it could be that the age estimate is rather uncertain. Hence I have asked ms Whittaker if the estimated date could also be 55-56 million years ago. That would make things fall into place.
I have been arguing here (http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=148461) that following big tectonic events, the oceans may have dramatically redistrubuted, causing massive sea floor methane hydrate release events.
I should have payed better attention to the publications, this (http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/sci;316/5824/587) has been around quite a while:
Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum and the Opening of the Northeast Atlantic
Michael Storey, Robert A. Duncan, Carl C. Swisher,
.....The relative age of Danish Ash-17 thus places the PETM onset after the beginning of massive flood basalt volcanism at 56.1 ± 0.4 million years ago but within error of the estimated continental breakup time of 55.5 ± 0.3 million years ago, marked by the eruption of mid-ocean ridge basalt–like flows.....
Hence the tectonic element is covered now.
More recently this (http://www.science.usyd.edu.au/news/pdf/whittaker.pdf) popped up:
Press Release 9/10/07
By Joanne Whittaker and Dietmar Müller, School of Geosciences, The University of Sydney
APEC countries share common geological history
A previously unknown geological connection between Australia, Antarctica and the Pacific rim has been revealed by an international team led by a University of Sydney group. Joanne Whittaker, PhD student, A/Prof Dietmar Müller, of the School of Geosciences, and colleagues have written of the discovery in the Science magazine.
“The cause of a major change in the motion of the Pacific plate has long puzzled scientists. We have found that the destruction of an entire mid-ocean ridge, known as the Izanagi Ridge, 50 million years ago in the Pacific Ocean initiated a chain reaction of geological events from Hawaii to Antarctica”....cont'd
Since an earlier date for that event was estimated 43 million years ago, it could be that the age estimate is rather uncertain. Hence I have asked ms Whittaker if the estimated date could also be 55-56 million years ago. That would make things fall into place.