Glacial carbon cycle changes by Southern Ocean processes with sedimentary amplification

Recent paleo reconstructions suggest that increased carbon storage in the Southern Ocean during glacial periods contributed to low glacial atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (pCO(2)). However, quantifying its contribution in three-dimensional ocean general circulation models (OGCMs) has proven challenging. Here, we show that OGCM simulation with sedimentary process considering enhanced Southern Ocean salinity stratification and iron fertilization from glaciogenic dust during glacial periods improves model-data agreement of glacial deep water with isotopically light carbon, low oxygen, and old radiocarbon ages. The glacial simulation shows a 77-ppm reduction of atmospheric pCO(2), which closely matches the paleo record. The Southern Ocean salinity stratification and the iron fertilization from glaciogenic dust amplified the carbonate sedimentary feedback, which caused most of the increased carbon storage in the deep ocean and played an important role in pCO(2) reduction. The model-data agreement of Southern Ocean properties is crucial for simulating glacial changes in the ocean carbon cycle.

Automated summary

Recent paleo reconstructions suggest that increased carbon storage in the Southern Ocean during glacial periods contributed to low glacial atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration. The study shows that Southern Ocean salinity stratification and iron fertilization from glaciogenic dust during glacial periods amplified the carbonate sedimentary feedback, leading to increased carbon storage in the deep ocean and a 77-ppm reduction of atmospheric pCO(2). Model-data agreement of Southern Ocean properties is crucial for simulating glacial changes in the ocean carbon cycle.