Nature Communications (Apr 2018)

Fossil black smoker yields oxygen isotopic composition of Neoproterozoic seawater

  • F. Hodel,
  • M. Macouin,
  • R. I. F. Trindade,
  • A. Triantafyllou,
  • J. Ganne,
  • V. Chavagnac,
  • J. Berger,
  • M. Rospabé,
  • C. Destrigneville,
  • J. Carlut,
  • N. Ennih,
  • P. Agrinier

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03890-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Uncertainty regarding the evolution of the oxygen isotopic composition of seawater casts doubt on past temperature reconstructions. Here, the authors present a new, precise δ18O value for the Neoproterozoic, and propose that ocean temperatures on the eve of the Sturtian glaciation were 15–30 °C warmer than present.