Abstract
A connection has recently been proposed between cloud albedo over the oceans and the release of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) by marine algae. DMS acts as a precursor for most of the cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) in the marine atmosphere1. The mass extinctions at the Cretaceous/Tertiary (K/T) boundary include about 90% of marine calcareous nannoplankton2,3, and carbon isotope data show that marine primary productivity as a whole was drastically reduced for at least several tens of thousands of years, and perhaps up to a million years after the extinction event4–6. The elimination of most marine calcareous phytoplankton would have meant a severe decrease in DMS production, leading to a drastic reduction in CCN and hence marine cloud albedo. Here we examine the possible climatic effects of a drastic decrease in CCN associated with a severe reduction in the global marine phytoplankton abundance. Calculations suggest that a reduction in CCN of more than 80%, and the resulting decrease in marine cloud albedo, could have produced a rapid global warming of 6°C or more. Oxygen isotope analyses of marine sediments from many parts of the world have been interpreted as indicating a marked warming coincident with the demise of calcareous nannoplankton at the K/T boundary. Decreased marine cloud albedo, and resulting high sea surface temperatures could have been a factor in the maintenance of low productivity in the 'Strangelove Ocean' period following the K/T extinctions.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Charlson, R. J., Lovelock, J. E., Andreae, M. O. & Warren, S. G. Nature 326, 655–661 (1987).
Thierstein, H. R. Spec. Publ. Soc. Econ. Miner. Petrol. 32, 355–394 (1981).
Thierstein, H. R. Spec. Pap. geol Soc. Am. 190, 385–399 (1982).
Hsü, K. J. et al. Science 216, 249–256 (1982).
Hsü, K. J., McKenzie, J. A. & He, Q. X. Spec. Pap. geol Soc. Am. 190, 317–328 (1982).
Arthur, M. A., Zachos, J. C. & Jones, D. S. Cret. Res. 8, 43–54 (1987).
Bates, T. S., Charlson, R. J. & Gammon, R. H. Nature 329, 319–321 (1987).
Wetherald, R. T. & Manabe, S. J. atmos. Sci 37, 1485–1510 (1980).
Wetherald, R. T. & Manabe S. J. atmos. Sci. 32, 2044–2059 (1975).
Hansen, J. E. et al. in Climate Processes and Climate Sensitivity (eds Hansen, J. E. & Takahashi, T.) 130–163 (Am. Geophys. Union, Washington, DC, 1984).
Barron, E. J. & Washington, W. M. in The Carbon Cycle and Atmospheric CO2: Natural Variations Archean to Present (eds Sundquist, E. T. & Broecker, W. S.) 546–553 (Am. Geophys. Union, Washington, DC, 1985).
Brennecke, J. L. & Anderson, T. P. Am. geophys. Union Trans. 58, 415 (1977).
Thierstein, H. R. & Berger, W. H. Nature 276, 461–466 (1978).
Scholle, P. A. & Arthur, M. A. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. Bull. 64, 67–87 (1980).
Perch-Nielsen, K., McKenzie, J. & He, Q. X. Spec. Pap. geol. Soc. Am. 190, 353–371 (1982).
Hsü, K. J. & McKenzie, J. A. in The Carbon Cycle and Atmospheric CO2. Natural Variations Archean to Present (eds Sundquist, E. T. & Broecker, W. S.) 487–492 (Am. Geophys. Union, Washington, DC, 1985).
Hsü, K. J. in Mesozoic and Cenozoic Oceans (ed. Hsu, K. J.) 75–84 (Am. Geophys. Union, Washington, DC, 1986).
Zachos, J. C. & Arthur, M. A. Paleoceanogr. 1, 5–26 (1986).
Andreae, M. O. in The Role of Air-Sea Exchange in Geochemical Cycling (ed. Buat-Ménard, P.) 331–362 (Reidel, Dordrecht, 1986).
Boersma, A. et al. Init. Rep. DSDP 43, 695–718 (1979).
Smit, J. Spec. Pap. geol Soc Am. 190, 329–352 (1982).
Margolis, S. V. et al. Paleoceanogr. 2, 361–377 (1987).
Boersma, A. & Shackleton, N. J. Init. Rep. DSDP 62, 513–526 (1981).
Zachos, J. C. et al. Init. Rep. DSDP 86, 513–532 (1985).
Hoffert, M. I. et al. J. atmos. Sci 40, 1659–1668 (1983).
McLean, D. M. Science 201, 401–406 (1978).
McLean, D. M. Cret. Res. 6, 235–259 (1985).
Emiliani, C., Kraus, E. B. & Shoemaker, E. M. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 55, 317–334 (1981).
Kasting, J. F., Richardson, S. M., Pollack, J. B. & Toon, O. B. Am. J. Sci. 286, 361–389 (1986).
Glancy, T. J. Jr, Barron, E. J. & Arthur, M. A. Paleoceanogr. 1, 523–537 (1986).
Alvarez, W. Eos 67, 649–658 (1986).
Courtillot, V. et al. Earth planet Sci. Lett. 80, 361–374 (1986).
Rampino, M. R. Nature 327, 468 (1987).
Hsü, K. J. et al. Nature 316, 809–811 (1985).
Margaritz, M. et al. Nature 320, 258–259 (1986).
Tucker, M. E. Nature 319, 48–50 (1986).
Aharon, P., Schidlowski, M. & Singh, I. B. Nature 327, 699–702 (1987).
Sun, Yijin et al. in Contr. 27th Int. Geol. Congr. 225–234 (Science Press, Beijing, 1984).
Dao-Yi, X. et al. Nature 321, 854–855 (1986).
Awramik, S. M. Nature 319, 696 (1986).
Morris, S. C. & Bengtson, S. Nature 319, 696–697 (1986).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rampino, M., Volk, T. Mass extinctions, atmospheric sulphur and climatic warming at the K/T boundary. Nature 332, 63–65 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/332063a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/332063a0
This article is cited by
-
Gaia and natural selection
Nature (1998)
-
Multiple factors in the origin of the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary: the role of environmental stress and Deccan Trap volcanism
Geologische Rundschau (1996)
-
Satellite observation of the Earth Radiation Budget and clouds
Space Science Reviews (1990)
-
Baseline atmospheric condensation nuclei at Cape Grim 1977?1987
Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry (1990)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
