Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Science 7 April 2000:
Vol. 288. no. 5463, pp. 128 - 133
DOI: 10.1126/science.288.5463.128
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Reports

Carbon Isotopic Evidence for Methane Hydrate Instability During Quaternary Interstadials

James P. Kennett, 1* Kevin G. Cannariato, 1 Ingrid L. Hendy, 1 Richard J. Behl 2

Large (about 5 per mil) millennial-scale benthic foraminiferal carbon isotopic oscillations in the Santa Barbara Basin during the last 60,000 years reflect widespread shoaling of sedimentary methane gradients and increased outgassing from gas hydrate dissociation during interstadials. Furthermore, several large, brief, negative excursions (up to -6 per mil) coinciding with smaller shifts (up to -3 per mil) in depth-stratified planktonic foraminiferal species indicate massive releases of methane from basin sediments. Gas hydrate stability was modulated by intermediate-water temperature changes induced by switches in thermohaline circulation. These oscillations were likely widespread along the California margin and elsewhere, affecting gas hydrate instability and contributing to millennial-scale atmospheric methane oscillations.

1 Geological Sciences and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
2 Department of Geological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA.
*   To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: kennett{at}geology.ucsb.edu

Read the Full Text


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Tipping Elements in Earth Systems Special Feature: Ocean methane hydrates as a slow tipping point in the global carbon cycle.
D. Archer, B. Buffett, and V. Brovkin (2009)
PNAS 106, 20596-20601
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Shifting Gear, Quickly.
E. G. Nisbet and J. Chappellaz (2009)
Science 324, 477-478
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Remote quantification of methane fluxes in gassy marine sediments through seismic survey.
A.W. Dale, P. Regnier, P. Van Cappellen, H. Fossing, J.B. Jensen, and B.B Jorgensen (2009)
Geology 37, 235-238
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Planktonic and Sediment-Associated Aerobic Methanotrophs in Two Seep Systems along the North American Margin.
P. L. Tavormina, W. Ussler III, and V. J. Orphan (2008)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 74, 3985-3995
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Plankton, from the last ice age to the year 3007.
E. C. Pielou (2008)
ICES J. Mar. Sci. 65, 296-301
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
A new model linking atmospheric methane sources to Pleistocene glaciation via methanogenesis in sedimentary basins.
M.J. Formolo, J.M. Salacup, S.T. Petsch, A.M. Martini, and K. Nusslein (2008)
Geology 36, 139-142
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
On the use of benthic foraminiferal {delta}13C in palaeoceanography: constraints from primary proxy relationships.
A. Mackensen (2008)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications 303, 121-133
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
The enigma of early Miocene biserial planktic foraminifera.
C. W. Smart and E. Thomas (2006)
Geology 34, 1041-1044
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Inaugural Article: Climatically driven emissions of hydrocarbons from marine sediments during deglaciation.
T. M. Hill, J. P. Kennett, D. L. Valentine, Z. Yang, C. M. Reddy, R. K. Nelson, R. J. Behl, C. Robert, and L. Beaufort (2006)
PNAS 103, 13570-13574
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Methane-driven late Pleistocene {delta}13C minima and overflow reversals in the southwestern Greenland Sea.
C. Millo, M. Sarnthein, H. Erlenkeuser, and T. Frederichs (2005)
Geology 33, 873-876
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Structure of the penultimate deglaciation along the California margin and implications for Milankovitch theory.
K. G. Cannariato and J. P. Kennett (2005)
Geology 33, 157-160
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Abrupt Tropical Vegetation Response to Rapid Climate Changes.
K. A. Hughen, T. I. Eglinton, L. Xu, and M. Makou (2004)
Science 304, 1955-1959
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Evidence for large methane releases to the atmosphere from deep-sea gas-hydrate dissociation during the last glacial episode.
T. de Garidel-Thoron, L. Beaufort, F. Bassinot, and P. Henry (2004)
PNAS 101, 9187-9192
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Critical pressure and multiphase flow in Blake Ridge gas hydrates.
P. B. Flemings, X. Liu, and W. J. Winters (2003)
Geology 31, 1057-1060
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Methane-driven oceanic eruptions and mass extinctions.
G. Ryskin (2003)
Geology 31, 741-744
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Molecular Fossil Record of Elevated Methane Levels in Late Pleistocene Coastal Waters.
K.-U. Hinrichs, L. R. Hmelo, and S. P. Sylva (2003)
Science 299, 1214-1217
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Escape of methane gas through sediment waves in a large methane hydrate province.
W.S. Holbrook, D. Lizarralde, I.A. Pecher, A.R. Gorman, K.L. Hackwith, M. Hornbach, and D. Saffer (2002)
Geology 30, 467-470
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Migration of methane gas through the hydrate stability zone in a low-flux hydrate province.
A. R. Gorman, W. S. Holbrook, M. J. Hornbach, K. L. Hackwith, D. Lizarralde, and I. Pecher (2002)
Geology 30, 327-330
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Stratigraphic Variation in Marine Carbonate Carbon Isotope Ratios.
R. L. Ripperdan and R. L. Ripperdan (2001)
Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 43, 637-662
   Full Text »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)