High-resolution Jurassic atmospheric CO2 concentration variations: evidence from C3 plant organic carbon isotopes

doi:10.7605/gdlxb.2026.068

Abstract

Abstract:

The increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide(pCO₂)concentration is widely recognized as the primary driver of global warming. Reconstructing pCO₂ levels during geological periods is crucial for improving predictions of future climate change. The Jurassic period represents a typical greenhouse climate interval in Earth’s history. Previous studies have estimated Jurassic pCO₂ concentrations using various approaches,including climate simulations and geological proxies. However,existing reconstructions are characterized by low temporal resolution and significant discrepancies among different proxy records. In this study,we systematically compiled 1808 C₃ plant organic carbon isotope data points from the Jurassic period and applied a novel pCO₂ proxy—based on C₃ terrestrial plant organic carbon isotopes—to reconstruct a high-resolution,continuous record of atmospheric pCO₂ variation throughout the period. Our results indicate that pCO₂ levels ranged from 407×10^-6 to 7540×10^-6,which is broadly consistent with prior estimates. Furthermore,pCO₂ exhibited an overall decreasing trend punctuated by three distinct intervals of elevated concentrations,occurring in the Early and Late Jurassic. These fluctuations correlate strongly with coeval geological events,supporting the reliability of the reconstruction. Although the reconstructed pCO₂ values during the Early Jurassic Toarcian stage are higher than those derived from other proxies—likely due to regional influences on the isotopic composition of terrestrial C₃ plants—the dataset still accurately captures the long-term variation trend of pCO₂,underscoring its scientific value.

Key words: palaeoclimate, Jurassic, organic carbon isotopes of C₃ terrestrial plant, global warming, pCO₂

摘要：

大气二氧化碳(pCO₂)浓度升高被广泛认为是全球变暖的主要驱动因素。重建地质时期的pCO₂浓度对预测未来全球气候变化具有重要意义。侏罗纪是地质历史上典型的温室气候期,前人通过模拟计算和地质记录等多种方法估算了该时期的pCO₂浓度。然而,目前根据不同指标重建的侏罗纪pCO₂分辨率较低且存在较大差异。本研究系统收集了侏罗纪1808个C₃植物有机碳同位素数据,采用pCO₂重建新指标(C₃陆生植物有机碳同位素)恢复了侏罗纪高分辨率pCO₂连续变化趋势。研究表明,侏罗纪pCO₂浓度范围在407×10^-6~7540×10^-6之间,与前人研究结果基本一致。此外,该时期pCO₂整体呈现逐渐下降的趋势,并在早侏罗世和晚侏罗世中存在3次大气CO₂浓度高值区间。与同期地质事件相比,显示出良好的对应关系,表明研究结果具有较高的准确性。尽管研究结果表明早侏罗世托阿尔期的大气pCO₂浓度显著高于其他替代指标,可能由于所收集的C₃陆生植物有机碳同位素数据受区域因素影响,但该研究依然能够准确地反映侏罗纪pCO₂浓度的变化趋势,并具有一定的科学意义。

关键词: 古气候, 侏罗纪, C₃陆生植物有机碳同位素, 全球变暖, pCO₂

CLC Number:

LÜ Dawei, ZHANG Yuting, ZHANG Zhihui, WANG Luojing, GUO Yuanchen, ZHENG Guibo, LI Zekuan, WANG Bing. High-resolution Jurassic atmospheric CO₂ concentration variations: evidence from C₃ plant organic carbon isotopes[J]. Journal of Palaeogeography（Chinese Edition）, 2026, 28(2): 773-781.

吕大炜, 张雨婷, 张之辉, 王洛静, 郭元辰, 郑桂波, 李泽宽, 王冰. 侏罗纪高分辨率大气二氧化碳浓度变化:来自C₃植物有机碳同位素的证据^*[J]. 古地理学报, 2026, 28(2): 773-781.

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URL: http://www.gdlxb.cn/EN/10.7605/gdlxb.2026.068

http://www.gdlxb.cn/EN/Y2026/V28/I2/773

Figures/Tables 4

Fig.1 Distribution of the Jurassic C₃ terrestrial plant δ¹³C data

Fig.2 Comprehensive analysis of stable Carbon-Oxygen isotopes(δ¹³C,δ¹⁸O)and carbon isotope fractionation(ΔC)data from the Jurassic

Fig.3 Comparison of the Jurassic pCO₂ reconstructed using C₃ terrestrial plant organic carbon isotope method and other proxy indicators

Fig.4 Comparison of reconstructed high-resolution Jurassic atmospheric CO₂ concentration curve(this study) with contemporaneous geological events

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High-resolution Jurassic atmospheric CO₂ concentration variations: evidence from C₃ plant organic carbon isotopes

侏罗纪高分辨率大气二氧化碳浓度变化:来自C₃植物有机碳同位素的证据^*

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