Journal
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
Volume 439, Issue -, Pages 101-108Publisher
ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2016.01.023
Keywords
sponge spicules; silicon isotopes; Southern Ocean; silicic acid leakage
Categories
Funding
- Australian Research Council [DP0770820]
- Australian Research Council [DP0770820] Funding Source: Australian Research Council
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The Southern Ocean plays a critical role in the exchange of carbon between the ocean and atmosphere over glacial-interglacial timescales. Hypotheses used to explain late Quaternary variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) implicate changes in the nutrient dynamics and circulation of the Southern Ocean. Here we present silicon isotope (delta Si-30) records of late Quaternary sponges and diatoms from the NZ sector of the Southern Ocean. Analysis of our sponge delta Si-30 records strongly suggests that the silicic acid concentration at mode and intermediate depths was higher during the LGM and the deglacial period compared to the present day. Our diatom delta Si-30 record suggests biological productivity near of the Polar Front was greater during the deglacial period, but not significantly different during the LGM compared to the present day. Taking our dataset in context with other regional paleoceanographic records, we interpret the predicted elevation in LGM and deglacial silicic acid concentration to reflect a shoaling of water masses during the LGM and 'leakage' of excess Southern Ocean dissolved silicon during the deglacial period. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available