Carnian Pluvial Event

The Carnian Pluvial Event (CPE) is a major global climate change and biotic turnover that occurred during the Carnian, early Late Triassic, ~ 230 million years ago.

The base of the CPE is marked by a ~ 0.4% negative shift in carbon stable isotopes (δ¹³C) of fossil molecules (n-alkanes) from higher plants and total organic carbon. A ~ 0.15% negative shift in oxygen stable isotopes (δ¹⁸O) of conodont apatite suggests a global warming. Major changes in organisms responsible for calcium carbonate production occurred during the CPE. A halt of carbonate sedimentation is observed in deep water settings of Southern Italy that was probably caused by the rise of the Carbonate Compensation Depth (CCD). High extinction rates occurred among ammonoids, conodonts, bryozoa, and crinoids. Major evolutionary innovations followed the CPE, as the first occurrence of dinosaurs, calcareous nannofossils and scleractinian corals.

Naming

The CPE is also known as "Reingrabener Wende" (meaning Reingrabener turnover), or "Raibl event".