New constraints on atmospheric CO2 concentration for the Phanerozoic

Peter J. Franks; Dana L. Royer; David J. Beerling; Peter K. Van de Water; David J. Cantrill; Margaret M. Barbour; Joseph A. Berry

doi:10.1002/2014gl060457

journal article Jul 10, 2014

New constraints on atmospheric CO2 concentration for the Phanerozoic

Peter J. Franks

Dana L. Royer

David J. Beerling

Peter K. Van de Water David J. Cantrill

Margaret M. Barbour Joseph A. Berry

Geophysical Research Letters Vol. 41 No. 13 pp. 4685-4694 · American Geophysical Union (AGU)

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/2014gl060457

Abstract

AbstractEarth's atmospheric CO2 concentration (ca) for the Phanerozoic Eon is estimated from proxies and geochemical carbon cycle models. Most estimates come with large, sometimes unbounded uncertainty. Here, we calculate tightly constrained estimates of ca using a universal equation for leaf gas exchange, with key variables obtained directly from the carbon isotope composition and stomatal anatomy of fossil leaves. Our new estimates, validated against ice cores and direct measurements of ca, are less than 1000 ppm for most of the Phanerozoic, from the Devonian to the present, coincident with the appearance and global proliferation of forests. Uncertainties, obtained from Monte Carlo simulations, are typically less than for ca estimates from other approaches. These results provide critical new empirical support for the emerging view that large (~2000–3000 ppm), long‐term swings in ca do not characterize the post‐Devonian and that Earth's long‐term climate sensitivity to ca is greater than originally thought.

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Details

Published: Jul 10, 2014
Vol/Issue: 41(13)
Pages: 4685-4694
License: View

Authors

P

Peter J. Franks

Faculty of Agriculture and Environment University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia

D

Dana L. Royer

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Wesleyan University Middletown Connecticut USA

D

David J. Beerling

Department of Animal and Plant Sciences University of Sheffield Sheffield UK

P

Peter K. Van de Water

Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences California State University Fresno California USA

D

David J. Cantrill

National Herbarium of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne South Yarra Australia

M

Margaret M. Barbour

Faculty of Agriculture and Environment University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia

J

Joseph A. Berry

Department of Global Ecology Carnegie Institution of Washington Stanford California USA

Cite This Article

Peter J. Franks, Dana L. Royer, David J. Beerling, et al. (2014). New constraints on atmospheric CO2 concentration for the Phanerozoic. Geophysical Research Letters, 41(13), 4685-4694. https://doi.org/10.1002/2014gl060457

New constraints on atmospheric CO2 concentration for the Phanerozoic

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