Enhanced phosphorus weathering contributed to Late Miocene cooling

Yi Zhong (zhongy@sustech.edu.cn), Zhiguo Li, Xuefa Shi, Terry Isson, Jimin Yu, Sev Kender, Zhou Liang, George E. A. Swann, Alex Pullen, Michael E. Weber, Jinlong Du, Juan C. Larrasoaña, Jingyu Zhang, Yafang Song, F. J. González, Stefanie Kaboth-Bahr, Hai Li, Qi Zhang, Debo Zhao, Wei Cao, Mingyu Zhao (mingyu.zhao@mail.iggcas.ac.cn) and Qingsong Liu (qsliu@sustech.edu.cn)
Additional contact information
Yi Zhong: Southern University of Science and Technology
Zhiguo Li: China University of Geosciences
Xuefa Shi: State Oceanic Administration
Terry Isson: BOP
Jimin Yu: Laoshan Laboratory
Sev Kender: University of Exeter
Zhou Liang: Florida State University
George E. A. Swann: University of Nottingham
Alex Pullen: Clemson University
Michael E. Weber: University of Bonn
Jinlong Du: Tongji University
Juan C. Larrasoaña: Campus de Arrosadia
Jingyu Zhang: Southern University of Science and Technology
Yafang Song: University of Science and Technology of China
F. J. González: Rios Rosas 23
Stefanie Kaboth-Bahr: Freie Universität Berlin
Hai Li: Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou)
Qi Zhang: China University of Geosciences
Debo Zhao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Wei Cao: Southern University of Science and Technology
Mingyu Zhao: Chinese Academy of Sciences
Qingsong Liu: Southern University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract Late Miocene climate evolution provides an opportunity to assess Earth’s climate sensitivity to carbon cycle perturbation under warmer-than-modern conditions. Despite its relevance for understanding the climate system, the driving mechanisms underlying profound climate and carbon cycle changes – including the enigmatic Late Miocene cooling from 7 to 5.4 million years ago – remain unclear. Here, we present magnetic and geochemical paleoceanographic proxies from a hydrogenetic ferromanganese crust retrieved in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Our results indicate a striking 50% surge in deep ocean phosphorus concentrations occurred 7 – 4 million years ago, synchronous with enhanced deep ocean oxygen consumption. Employing a global biogeochemical model, we show that increased continental phosphorus weathering, without a concurrent rise in silicate weathering, contributed to the decline in atmospheric CO2 and associated cooling over the Late Miocene. This suggests a prominent decoupling of phosphorus and silicate weathering during a major carbon cycling event over the last 10 million years.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56477-7

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