Earth 103 Lab 1_PETM_WordDoc_2_0_0revised2023
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Feb 20, 2024
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Earth 103 Module 1
Lab 1: Global warming during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum
In this lab, we explore the magnitude of the warming that took place during the PETM based on proxy data. We compare PETM temperatures with current temperatures as well as warming predicted for the year 2100. We will look at Mg/Ca, oxygen isotope and TEX-86 proxy temperatures from a number of cores of marine PETM sediments drilled in the oceans and on land, as well as margin analysis of leaves from land sections, to determine the temperature change. If you have not read the relevant material on proxies and the PETM in this module, please go back and do this before you begin the lab.
Please Note: The data are provided in Google Earth file. The goals of this lab are:
1.
To compare the magnitude and rate of warming at the PETM with that of today.
2.
To get comfortable with Google Earth, especially turning maps on and off.
If you have not worked through the Google Earth Tutorial in the Orientation
, you must do so now.
Files to Download (Please download from the course website)
1.
PETM Data
2.
PETM Paleogeography
3.
Modern SST
Instructions
Load the
PETM Data kmz file
into Google Earth. The map shows continental positions and the extent of the ocean during the PETM. The red markers show the site positions that you will use for this lab. If you click on them you will get several pieces of information: (1) the proxy used to determine temperature; (2) the temperature just before the PETM (pre-event) and (3) the PETM temperature. I recommend you make a table similar to the example on the next page, that shows all of the data, as well as your calculated temperature change.
Site Positions
Proxy
Pre-event Temp.
PETM Temp
Temp. Change
ACEX
TEX-86
18.6 C
22.4 C
+3.8 C
Siberian Sea
TEX-86
20 C
27 C
+7 C
Bighorn Basin
Leaf Margin Analysis
15.7 C
19.8 C
+4.1
Bass River
TEX-86
30 C
35.5 C
+5.5 C
Next, practice turning on the modern sea surface temperature (SST) map in the Modern SST kmz file
to compare the PETM temperatures with those of today.
Note that since the continents have moved a long way in 55 million years since the PETM, there are places in the PETM ocean which now lie in the position of the modern continents and thus don
’t have equivalent modern temperatures (you will see some PETM sites in the dark blue area of the modern continents). But if you turn on the PETM Paleogeography kmz file you will see more accurate reconstructions of the margins of the continents and the locations of the sites relative to them.
After you have made the table from the data that you collected and feel comfortable comparing the data with temperatures read from the temperature kmz maps, please answer the practice
questions below. Once you feel good about your answers, go to Lab 1 in Module 1 in Canvas. There will be two labs available to you, Module 1 Lab 1 (Practice) and Module 1 Lab 1 (Graded). You will have a chance to answer practice questions and get the correct answers before answering the Module 1 Lab 1 (Graded) questions for credit. Please make sure you fully understand the practice questions before you start the graded questions
for credit. You may want to review some of the content in Module 1 to help prepare. Keep in mind that you will only get one chance to complete the graded labs
.
Practice Questions
1.
What is the temperature increase at Bass River during the PETM (give your answer in degrees centigrade)?
2.
What is the temperature increase at the Siberian Sea site during the PETM (give your answer in degrees centigrade)? 3.
Which oceanic site (i.e. only site with numbers located in the ocean basins) has the smallest temperature change?
Now turn on the Modern temperature map and answer the following questions:
4.
Compared to modern temperatures, is the location of Site 277 warmer or colder during the PETM?
5.
Which oceanic site (i.e. only sites with numbers located in the ocean basins) has the smallest temperature difference between PETM and modern.
Ocean Sites Temp Difference
1209 – Mg/Ca
Pre: 29.5
PETM: 33.4
Difference: 3.9
865 – Mg/Ca
Pre: 30.7
PETM: 32.1
Difference: 1.4
277 – Mg/Ca
Pre: 26
PETM: 32
Difference: 6
1172 – TEX-86
Pre: 22.4
PETM: 25.9
Difference: 3.5
527 – Mg/Ca
Pre: 28.8
PETM: 31.6
Difference: 2.8
690 – Oxygen Isotope
Pre: 11.3
PETM: 16.3
Difference: 5
401 – Oxygen Isotope
Pre: 22
PETM: 26
Difference: 4
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