Suffocating Seas: Clues About Timing And Causes Of Oxygen-free Event In Cretaceous Ocean
Saturday, September 12, 2009 - 07:07
in Earth & Climate
Some 119 million years ago, large portions of the world ocean were close to suffocation. The reason: acute lack of oxygen. This is documented by geological findings around the world. The exact timing and the causes of this so-called oceanic anoxic event however, are not known yet: How fast did it happen, and why? How much time did the ocean system need to recover? Geologists are seeking to find out with the help of high quality sediment cores from southern France. The obtained data could also be relevant for future climate scenarios.