Faraoni Thermal Excursion
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The Faraoni Thermal Excursion (FTX) was a hyperthermal event that occurred during the Hauterivian stage of the Early Cretaceous period,[1] being induced by flood basalt volcanism.[2] It is associated with an oceanic anoxic event (OAE).[3]
The FTX is associated with a pulse of large igneous province (LIP) activity indicated by increased environmental mercury loading, suggesting that massive volcanism was its cause like other Cretaceous OAEs.[2] The OAE was exacerbated by enhanced recycling of sedimentary phosphorus back into the water column under anoxic conditions, which acted as a positive feedback loop that facilitated more eutrophication and deoxygenation.[4]
Timing and duration
Anoxia
The FTX caused an anoxic event,[5] which was initially believed to be limited to the Tethys Ocean but has since been found to have affected other marine regions.[3] In some studied sections, there was only dysoxia and not outright anoxia.[6][7]