Quantifying volcanism and organic carbon burial across Oceanic Anoxic Event 2

Abstract Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (ca. 94 Ma; OAE2) was one of the largest Mesozoic carbon cycle perturbations, but associated emissions, primarily from Caribbean large igneous province (LIP) and marine burial fluxes, are poorly constrained. Here, we use box model LOSCAR-P to quantify role LIP volcanism enhanced organic (Corg) as constrained by magnitude shape positive stable isotope (δ13C) excursion (CIE) in exogenic pool atmospheric pCO2 reconstructions. In our best fit scenario, two pulses volcanic input—0.065 Pg C yr–1 over 170 k.y. 0.075 40 k.y., separated an 80 interval with input 0.02 yr–1—are required simulate observed changes δ13C pCO2. Reduced activity Corg lead pronounced reductions at termination both pulses, consistent widespread evidence for cooling a temporal negative trend global record. Finally, show that leads lags between such features records simulations explained differences response time components forcing.