Research fields of interest
My research interests concern the mechanisms governing the long-term evolution (> 1myr) of the Earth climate during ancient periods (Jurassic and Cretaceous).
In order to understand these processes, I have been using both geochemical proxies and climate models. The Cretaceous and Jurassic periods are of particular interest because they are punctuated by episodes of volcanism, of enhanced organic matter burial, of carbonate calcification crises and of fluctuations in seawater temperature. Understanding how these events are related to climate changes would help to better understand the processes governing the Earth climate. More specifically, the mid-Cretaceous period encountered one of the warmest intervals of the past 300 million years, with atmospheric CO2 concentrations possibly up to 10 times the modern one. If this period cannot be used as an analogue to predict the consequences of modern global warming, because of a markedly different continent-ocean configuration which affects the global climate system, it provides us with an example of an extreme greenhouse climate. Studying how this extreme greenhouse climate has been established, how the earth leaved this state, and how the climate system responds to perturbations in a warm interval is important to improve our knowledge of the climate system behavior.
To study the evolution of the climate system, I have been using both proxies of marine paleotemperatures (δ18O of both biogenic apatite forming fish teeth, or of bivalves) and proxies of past ocean circulation (neodymium isotope composition of seawater, inferred from fish remains, Fe-Mn oxydes, and carbonates leached from bulk rocks). Indeed, as oceanic circulation is part of the climate system it is essential for our understanding of climate change to track possible changes in oceanic circulation pattern during the main climate transitions depicted from paleotemperature proxies. In order to go a step beyond identification of the main thermal and oceanic circulation changes, I have also used climate models to test the scenarios inferred from geochemical proxies and get a more comprehensive view of the mechanisms driving the observed changes. I have either performed simulations myself using a climate model of intermediate complexity (CLIMBER-2) or collaborated with modellers when more complex models were required (like FOAM). One of the aims in coupling geochemical proxies of both marine paleotemperatures and oceanic circulation with climate model simulations is to better understand the role of modifications in the continent-ocean configuration and of opening or closing of ocean gateways on multi-million years time scale.
I am now begun to additionally work with proxies of continental weathering, as some changes in oceanic circulation linked to modifications of oceanic gateway and basin configuration are also associated to creation of topographic reliefs. Creation of relief is able to impact climate through atmospheric CO2 drawdown liked to enhanced silicate weathering. More specifically, I have begun to try applying the combined Lu-Hf and Sm-Nd system in clays to depict changes in continental weathering at a local scale for the Late Cretaceous period.
Publications
* indicates supervised PhD or Master students
- Danzelle, J., Riquier, L., Baudin, F., Thomazo, C., & Pucéat, E. (2020). Nitrogen and carbon cycle perturbations through the Cenomanian-Turonian oceanic anoxic event 2 (~ 94 Ma) in the Vocontian Basin (SE France). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 538, 109443.
- Razmjooei, M. J., Thibault, N., Kani, A., Dinarès-Turell, J., Pucéat, E., & Chin, S. (2020). Calcareous nannofossil response to Late Cretaceous climate change in the eastern Tethys (Zagros Basin, Iran). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 538, 109418.
- Briard, J.*, Pucéat, E., Vennin, E., Daëron, M., Chavagnac, V., Jaillet, R., ... & de Rafélis, M. (2020). Seawater paleotemperature and paleosalinity evolution in neritic environments of the Mediterranean margin: Insights from isotope analysis of bivalve shells. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 109582.
- Chenot, E.*, Deconinck, J.F., Pucéat, E., Pellenard, P., Guiraud, M., Jaubert, M., Jarvis, I., Thibault, N., Cocquerez, T., Bruneau, L., Razmjooei, M.J., Boussaha, M., Richard, J., Sizun, J.P., Stemmerik, L., 2018. Continental weathering as a driver of Late Cretaceous cooling: new insights from clay mineralogy of Campanian sediments from the southern Tethyan margin to the Boreal realm. Global and Planetary Change 162, p. 292-312.
- Danzelle, J., Riquier, L., Baudin, F., Thomazo, C., Pucéat, E., 2018. Oscillating redox conditions in the Vocontian Basin (SE France) during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE 2). Chemical Geology 493, 136-152.
- Razmjooei, M. J., Thibault, N., Kani, A., Dinarès-Turell, J., Pucéat, E., Shahriari, S., Radmacher, W., Jamali, A.M., Ullmann, C.V., Voigt, S., Cocquerez, T., 2018. Integrated bio-and carbon-isotope stratigraphy of the Upper Cretaceous Gurpi Formation (Iran): A new reference for the eastern Tethys and its implications for large-scale correlation of stage boundaries. Cretaceous Research 91, p. 312-340.
- Tachikawa, K., Arsouze, T., Bayon, G., Bory, A., Colin, C., Dutay, J. C., Frank, N., Giraud, X., Gourlan, A.T., Jeandel, C., Lacan, F., Meynadier, L., Montagna, P., Piotrowski, A.M., Plancherel, Y., Pucéat, E., Roy-Barman, M., Waelbroeck, C. (sous presse). The large-scale evolution of neodymium isotopic composition in the global modern and Holocene ocean revealed from seawater and archive data. Chemical Geology.
- Moiroud*, M., Pucéat, E., Donnadieu, Y., Bayon, G., Deconinck, J.-F., Voigt, S., 2016. Evolution of neodymium isotopic signature of seawater in the Southern Hemisphere during the Late Cretaceous: implications for intermediate and deep circulation. Gondwana Research 36, p. 503-522..
- Bonin*, A., Pucéat, E., Vennin, E., Mattioli, E., Aurell, M., Joachimski, M., Barbarin, N., et Laffont, R., 2016. Cool episode and platform demise in the Early Aptian : new insights on the links between climate and carbonate production. Paleoceanography 31, p. 66-80..
- Donnadieu, Y., Pucéat, E., Moiroud*, M., Guillocheau, F., et Deconinck, J.F., 2016.A better-ventilated ocean triggered by Late
Cretaceous changes in continental configuration Nature Communications, doi :10.1038/ncomms10316.
- Chenot, E., Pellenard, P., Martinez, M., Deconinck, J.F., Amiotte-Suchet, P., Thibault, N., Bruneau, L., Cocquerez, T., Laffont, R., Pucéat, E., et Robaszynski, F., 2016. Clay Mineralogical and geochemical expressions of the « Late Campanian Event » in the Aquitaine and Paris basins (France) : Palaeoenvironmental implications. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology 44, p. 42-52..
- Bomou*, B., Deconinck, J. F., Pucéat, E., Amédro, F., Joachimski, M. M., & Quillévéré, F., 2015. Isotopic seawater temperatures in the Albian Gault Clay of the Boulonnais (Paris Basin): palaeoenvironmental implications. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association..
- Dera, G., Prunier, J., Smith, P.L., Haggart, J.W., Popov, E., Guzhov, A., Rogov, M., Delsate, D., Thies, D., Cuny, G., Pucéat, E., Charbonnier, G., Bayon, G., 2015. Nd isotope constraints on ocean circulation, paleoclimate, and continental drainage during the Jurassic breakup of Pangea. Gondwana Research 27, p. 1599-1615.
- Ghirardi, J., Deconinck J.F., Pellenard, P., Martinez, M., Bruneau, L., Amiotte-Suchet, P., et Pucéat, E., 2014. Multi-proxy orbital chronology in the aftermath of the Aptian Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a: Palaeoceanographic implications (Serre Chaitieu section, Vocontian Basin, SE France). Newsletter on Stratigraphy 47, p. 247-262.
- Pellenard, P., Tramoy, R., Pucéat, E., Huret, E., Martinez, M., Bruneau, L., Thierry, J., sous presse. Carbon cycle ans sea-water paleotemperature evolution at the Middle-Late Jurassic transition, eastern Paris Basin (France). Marine and Petroleum Geology 53, p. 30-43.
- Moiroud*, M., Pucéat, E., Donnadieu, Y., Bayon, G., Moriya, K., Deconinck, J.-F., et Boyet, M., 2013. Evolution of neodymium isotopic signature of neritic seawater on a northwestern Pacific margin : new constrains on possible end-members for the composition of deep-water masses in the Late Cretaceous ocean. Chemical Geology 356, p. 160-170.
- Pucéat, E., Joachimski, M.M., Bouilloux, A., Monna, F., Bonin, A., Motreuil, S., Morinière, P., Hénard, S., Mourin, J., Dera, G. et Quesnes, D., 2013. Reply on Comment by Longinelli (2013) on a revised phosphate-water fractionation equation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 277-378, p. 380-382.
- Barbarin*, N., Bonin, A., Mattioli, E., Pucéat, E., Cappetta, H., Gréselle, B., Pittet, B., Vennin, E., et Joachimiski, M., 2012. Evidence for a complex Valanginian nannoconid decline in the Vocontian basin(South East France). Marine Micropaleontology 84-85, p. 37-53.
- Bonin*, A., Vennin, E., Pucéat, E., Guiraud, M., Arnaud, A., Adatte, T., Pittet, B., et Mattioli, E., 2012. Community replacement in neritic carbonate organisms during the Late Valanginian Platform demise: a new preserved record in the Provence Platform. Soumis à Palaeogeography Palaeoecology Palaeoclimatology 365-366, p. 57-80.
- Charbonnier*, G., Pucéat, E., Bayon, G., Desmares, Dera, G., D., Durlet, C., Deconinck, J.-F., Amedro, F., Gourlan, A., P. Pellenard, P., Bomou, B., 2012. Reconstruction of the Nd isotope composition of seawater on epicontinental seas: Testing the potential of Fe–Mn oxyhydroxide coatings on foraminifera tests for deep-time investigations. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 99, p. 39-56.
- Donnadieu, Y., Dromart, G., Goddéris, Y., Pucéat, E., Brigaud, B., Dera, G., Dumas, C., and Olivier, N., 2011. A mechanism for brief glacial episodes in the Mesozoic greenhouse. Paleoceanography v. 26, PA3212, doi: 10.1029/2010PA002100.
- Dera, G., Brigaud, B., Monna, F., Laffont, R., Pucéat, E., Deconinck, J.-F., Pellenard, P. Joachimski, M.M., et Durlet, C., sous presse). Climatic ups and downs in a disturbed Jurassic world. Geology 39, p. 215–218.
- Nardin, E., Goddéris, Y., Donnadieu, Y., Le Hir, G., Blakey, R.C., Pucéat, E., et Aretz, M., sous presse. Modeling the early Paleozoic long-term climatic trend. Geological Society of America Bulletin v. 123, p. 1181-1192.
- Gréselle, B., Pittet, B., Mattioli, E., Joachimski, M., Barbarin, N., Riquier, L., Reboulet, S., et Pucéat, E., 2011. The Valanginian isotope event: A complex suite of palaeoenvironmental perturbations. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology v. 306, p. 41-57.
- Pucéat, E., Joachimski, M.M., Bouilloux, A., Monna, F., Bonin, A., Motreuil, S., Morinière, P., Hénard, S., Mourin, J., Dera, G., et Quesnes, D., 2010. Revised phosphate-water fractionation equation reassessing paleotemperatures derived from biogenic apatite. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 298, p. 135-142.
- Brigaud, B., Durlet, C., Deconinck, J.F., Vincent, B., Pucéat, E., Thierry, J., et Trouiller, A.. Facies and climate/environmental changes recorded on a carbonate ramp: A sedimentological and geochemical approach on Middle Jurassic carbonates (Paris Basin, France). Sedimentary Geology 222, p. 181-206.
- Dera, G., Pucéat, E., Pellenard, P., Neige, P., Delsate, D., Joachimski, M. M., Reisberg, L., et Martinez, M., 2009. Water mass exchange and variations in seawater temperature in the NW Tethys during the Early Jurassic: evidence from neodymium and oxygen isotopes of fish teeth and belemnites. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 286, p. 198-207.
- Dera, G., Pellenard, P., Neige, P., Deconinck, J.-F., Pucéat, E., and Dommergues, J.-L., 2008. Distribution of clay minerals in Early Jurassic Peritethyan seas : palaeoclimatic significance inferred from multiproxy comparisons. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology.
- Pucéat, E., 2008. A new breath of life for anoxia. Geology 36 (10), p. 831-832.
- Brigaud, B., Pucéat, E., Pellenard, P., Vincent, B., and Joachimski, M., 2009. Climatic fluctuations and seasonality during the Late Jurassic (Oxfordian-Early Kimmeridgian) inferred from δ18O of Paris Basin oyster shells. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 273, p. 58-67.
- Pucéat, E., Lécuyer, C., Donnadieu, Y., Naveau, P., Cappetta, H., Ramstein, G., Huber, B.T., and Kriwet, J., 2007. Fish tooth δ18O revising Late Cretaceous meridional upper ocean water temperature gradients. Geology 35 (2), p. 107-110.
- Kriwet, J., Lirio, J. M., Nuñez, H. J., Puceat, E., and Lécuyer, C., 2006. Late Cretaceous Antarctic fish diversity. In ÈCretaceous Tertiary high-latitude palaeoenvironments, James Ross Basin, Antarctica. Special Publication of the Geological Society of London. Eds. D. Pirrie, J.E. Francis and J.A. Crame.
- Roche D.M., Donnadieu Y., Pucéat, E., and Paillard D., 2006. Effect of changes in δ18O content of the surface ocean on sea surface temperature evaluation in past warm climates. Paleoceanography 21, doi:10.1029/2005PA001220.
- Pucéat, E., Lécuyer, C., and Reisberg, L., 2005. Neodymium isotope evolution of NW Tethyan upper ocean water throughout the Cretaceous. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 236, p. 705-720.
- Pucéat, E., Donnadieu Y., Ramstein G., Fluteau F., and Guillocheau F., 2005. Numerical evidence for thermohaline circulation reversals during the Maastrichtian. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems (G3), 6, Q1102, doi: 10.1029/2005GC000998.
- Pucéat, E., Reynard, B., and Lécuyer, C., 2004. Can crystallinity be used to determine the degree of chemical alteration of biogenic apatites? Chemical Geology 205, p. 83-97.
- Pucéat, E., Lécuyer, C., Sheppard, S.M.F., Dromart, G., Reboulet, S., and Grandjean, P., 2003. Thermal evolution of Cretaceous Tethyan marine waters inferred from oxygen isotope composition of fish tooth enamels. Paleoceanography 18 (2), p.7-1/7-12 (doi:10.1029/2002PA000823).
Invited Talks
- 2016 (may) : « Late Cretaceous changes in oceanic circulation : new insights from neodymium isotopes and numerical climate simulations », University Ben Gurion of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israël.
- 2015 (july) : « Neodymium isotopes for paleoceanographic reconstructions : contributions to Late Cretaceous oceanic circulation patterns ». Conference « Climate of the past – lessons for the future », Monte Verità, Switzerland.
- 2015 (april) : « Evolution of oceanic circulation during the late Cretaceous – a coupled approach from neodymium isotope data and numerical simulations », University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
- 2014 (july) : «Late Cretaceous changes in continental configuration: toward a better-ventilated ocean? », Institute of Geosciences, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Francfort, Germany.
- 2014 (june) : « Evolution de la circulation océanique au Crétacé supérieur – apport couplé de données isotopiques du néodyme et de simulations numériques du climat », Géosciences Rennes, Rennes, France.
- 2012 (june) : « A revised phosphate-water fractionation equation : implications for marine paleotemperature reconstructions ». Congrès Development of Isotopic Tracers for a Better Understanding of the Phosphorus Cycle (IsoPhos), Monte Verità, Switzerland.
- 2011 (june) : « New developments in oxygen and neodymium isotope compositions of apatite for deep-time paleoenvironmental studies » Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP), Paris, France.
- 2010 (december) : « Oxygen and neodymium isotopic composition of apatite : applications and limits for paleoenvironmental studies. » Geological Institute, ETH Zürich, Switzerland.
- 2007 (october) : « Climate and oceanic circulation evolution during the Cretaceous. » Institut de géologie et hydrogéologie, Université de Neuchâtel, Swizerland.