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Radiocarbon evidence for enhanced respired carbon storage in the Atlantic at the Last Glacial Maximum

Author

Listed:
  • E. Freeman

    (Godwin Laboratory for Palaeoclimate Research, University of Cambridge)

  • L. C. Skinner

    (Godwin Laboratory for Palaeoclimate Research, University of Cambridge)

  • C. Waelbroeck

    (LSCE/IPSL, Laboratoire CNRS-CEA-UVSQ, Domaine du CNRS)

  • D. Hodell

    (Godwin Laboratory for Palaeoclimate Research, University of Cambridge)

Abstract

The influence of ocean circulation changes on atmospheric CO2 hinges primarily on the ability to alter the ocean interior’s respired nutrient inventory. Here we investigate the Atlantic overturning circulation at the Last Glacial Maximum and its impact on respired carbon storage using radiocarbon and stable carbon isotope data from the Brazil and Iberian Margins. The data demonstrate the existence of a shallow well-ventilated northern-sourced cell overlying a poorly ventilated, predominantly southern-sourced cell at the Last Glacial Maximum. We also find that organic carbon remineralization rates in the deep Atlantic remained broadly similar to modern, but that ventilation ages in the southern-sourced overturning cell were significantly increased. Respired carbon storage in the deep Atlantic was therefore enhanced during the last glacial period, primarily due to an increase in the residence time of carbon in the deep ocean, rather than an increase in biological carbon export.

Suggested Citation

  • E. Freeman & L. C. Skinner & C. Waelbroeck & D. Hodell, 2016. "Radiocarbon evidence for enhanced respired carbon storage in the Atlantic at the Last Glacial Maximum," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11998
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11998
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    Cited by:

    1. Heather M. Stoll & Isabel Cacho & Edward Gasson & Jakub Sliwinski & Oliver Kost & Ana Moreno & Miguel Iglesias & Judit Torner & Carlos Perez-Mejias & Negar Haghipour & Hai Cheng & R. Lawrence Edwards, 2022. "Rapid northern hemisphere ice sheet melting during the penultimate deglaciation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, December.

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