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Cover Photo: Length of continental arcs (Cao and others, 2017 EPSL) and cumulative frequency of young zircons in detrital deposits (McKenzie and others, 2016 Science) indicate a peak period of continental arc flare-ups in Jurassic-Paleocene, when the carbon input from contact metamorphism is comparable to mid-ocean ridges (this study, p. 631–657).
Paper summary: In this issue (p. 631–657), Chu and others present a model of infiltration-driven decarbonation in contact metamorphic aureoles, and summarize a scaling relationship to relate steady-state carbon release to the infiltration flux. The model is combined with magmatic emplacement rate of continental arcs through time, to estimate the global CO2 release by contact metamorphism at continental arcs. The result indicates that enhanced continental arc activities potentially contribute to warming over geologic timescales, especially during the late Mesozoic-early Cenozoic greenhouse interval.