A COUPLED CLIMATE SIMULATION OF THE LATE PERMIAN: IMPLICATIONS FOR GLOBAL ANOXIA

Life at the Permian Triassic boundary (~251 Ma) experienced the largest disruption in Earth's history. Paleoclimatic data indicate that Earth was significantly warmer than present and that much of the ocean was anoxic or euxinic for an extended period of time. Results are presented from the first fully coupled comprehensive climate model using paleogeography for this time period. Elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide due to volcanism is assumed for this time period. The coupled climate system model simulates warm high latitude surface air temperatures related to elevated carbon dioxide levels and a stagnate global ocean circulation in concert with paleo data indicating low oxygen levels at ocean depth. Details of the ocean circulation that contribute to low mixing at depth will be described and implications for anoxia for this time period will be discussed in terms of age of ocean water masses.