Verification of the mid-Cretaceous "Mega-monsoon Event"

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Expansion of anoxic environments and extinction of marine biota occurred in the Tethys Sea and the Atlantic Ocean during the earliest Albian period, mid-Cretaceous (113 million years ago). In order to understand the trigger and mechanism of this event, we analyzed microfossil assemblages, organic and inorganic geochemistry and clay mineralogy of the black shale which were deposited during this event. Our analyses demonstrate that the expansions of anoxic environment were triggered by increased continental run-off which was caused by extremely humid climate in response to the mid-Cretaceous global warming. Increased run-off may have caused surface ocean eutrophication and elevation of primary productivity, and resulted in expansion of anoxia.