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A circumpolar dust conveyor in the glacial Southern Ocean

Author

Listed:
  • Torben Struve

    (Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), University of Oldenburg)

  • Katharina Pahnke

    (Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), University of Oldenburg)

  • Frank Lamy

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Marc Wengler

    (Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research)

  • Philipp Böning

    (Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), University of Oldenburg)

  • Gisela Winckler

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University
    Columbia University)

Abstract

The increased flux of soluble iron (Fe) to the Fe-deficient Southern Ocean by atmospheric dust is considered to have stimulated the net primary production and carbon export, thus promoting atmospheric CO2 drawdown during glacial periods. Yet, little is known about the sources and transport pathways of Southern Hemisphere dust during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Here we show that Central South America (~24‒32°S) contributed up to ~80% of the dust deposition in the South Pacific Subantarctic Zone via efficient circum-Antarctic dust transport during the LGM, whereas the Antarctic Zone was dominated by dust from Australia. This pattern is in contrast to the modern/Holocene pattern, when South Pacific dust fluxes are thought to be primarily supported by Australian sources. Our findings reveal that in the glacial Southern Ocean, Fe fertilization critically relies on the dynamic interaction of changes in dust-Fe sources in Central South America with the circumpolar westerly wind system.

Suggested Citation

  • Torben Struve & Katharina Pahnke & Frank Lamy & Marc Wengler & Philipp Böning & Gisela Winckler, 2020. "A circumpolar dust conveyor in the glacial Southern Ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-18858-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18858-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Abhijith U. Venugopal & Nancy A. N. Bertler & Jeffrey P. Severinghaus & Edward J. Brook & Giuseppe Cortese & James E. Lee & Thomas Blunier & Paul A. Mayewski & Helle A. Kjær & Lionel Carter & Michael , 2023. "Antarctic evidence for an abrupt northward shift of the Southern Hemisphere westerlies at 32 ka BP," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.

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