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Trend of Santonian (Late Cretaceous) atmospheric CO2 and global mean land surface temperature: Evidence from plant fossils

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Abstract

Quantitative reconstructions of atmospheric CO2 by using terrestrial and marine records are critical for understanding the so-called “greenhouse” conditions in the Cretaceous, but data from terrestrial plants for several stages of this period remain quite limited. Using the stomatal index (SI) technique, here we estimate the Santonian (Late Cretaceous) CO2 contents based on a sequence of fossil cuticles of Ginkgo adiantoides (Ung.) Heer from three beds of the Yong’ancun Formation in Jiayin, Heilongjiang Province, northeastern China. By the regress function, SIs of Ginkgo fossils reveal a pronounced CO2 reduction from the early to late Santonian (∼661 and ∼565 ppm, respectively). The relatively high CO2 levels provide additional evidence for paleoclimatic warmth in this interval. Moreover, available paleobotanical data illustrate a decline trend of CO2 contents throughout the Late Cretaceous, punctuated by several fluctuations in particular episodes with different magnitudes. The CO2 contents shifted notably in the late Cenomanian, Turonian, early Santonian, late Campanian, and probably latest Maastrichtian. Furthermore, a comprehensive study based on CO2 data shows that the global mean land surface temperature (GMLST) fluctuated several times accordingly. The change ratios of GMLST (ΔT) increased from ∼3°C in late Cenomanian to ∼4.7°C in mid Turonian, and then dramatically reduced to ∼2.2°C in mid Coniacian. From the Santonian onward, it appears that the temperature gradually decreased with a few minor fluctuations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Exploration and Development Research Institute, Daqing Oilfield Company Ltd., Daqing, 163712, China

    ChuanBiao Wan

  2. College of Geosciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130061, China

    DeHai Wang & ZhanPing Zhu

  3. Key Laboratory for Evolution of Past Life and Environment in Northeast China, MOE, Jilin University, Changchun, 130026, China

    Cheng Quan

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  1. ChuanBiao Wan
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Correspondence to Cheng Quan.

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Wan, C., Wang, D., Zhu, Z. et al. Trend of Santonian (Late Cretaceous) atmospheric CO2 and global mean land surface temperature: Evidence from plant fossils. Sci. China Earth Sci. 54, 1338–1345 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-011-4267-1

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