Gibbs et al. question our reconstruction of surface- and deepwater acidification around Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a. We answer their criticisms to better substantiate our arguments and original conclusions. Contrary to their suggestion, preservation cannot explain the nannofossil changes we documented, which trace perturbations in the photic zone, including a substantial increase in partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) and an inferred decreased pH as derived from geochemical proxies.
Erba E., Bottini C., Weissert H. J., & Keller C. E., 2011. Response to comment on “Calcareous nannoplankton response to surface-water acidification around oceanic anoxic event 1a”. Science 332(6026):175. Article (subscription required).
