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Glacial/interglacial variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel M. Sigman

    (Guyot Hall, Princeton University)

  • Edward A. Boyle

    (Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Room E34-258, Massachusetts Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Twenty years ago, measurements on ice cores showed that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was lower during ice ages than it is today. As yet, there is no broadly accepted explanation for this difference. Current investigations focus on the ocean's ‘biological pump’, the sequestration of carbon in the ocean interior by the rain of organic carbon out of the surface ocean, and its effect on the burial of calcium carbonate in marine sediments. Some researchers surmise that the whole-ocean reservoir of algal nutrients was larger during glacial times, strengthening the biological pump at low latitudes, where these nutrients are currently limiting. Others propose that the biological pump was more efficient during glacial times because of more complete utilization of nutrients at high latitudes, where much of the nutrient supply currently goes unused. We present a version of the latter hypothesis that focuses on the open ocean surrounding Antarctica, involving both the biology and physics of that region.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel M. Sigman & Edward A. Boyle, 2000. "Glacial/interglacial variations in atmospheric carbon dioxide," Nature, Nature, vol. 407(6806), pages 859-869, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:407:y:2000:i:6806:d:10.1038_35038000
    DOI: 10.1038/35038000
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Anne Willem Omta & Christopher L. Follett & Jonathan M. Lauderdale & Raffaele Ferrari, 2024. "Carbon isotope budget indicates biological disequilibrium dominated ocean carbon storage at the Last Glacial Maximum," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Yuhao Dai & Jimin Yu & Haojia Ren & Xuan Ji, 2022. "Deglacial Subantarctic CO2 outgassing driven by a weakened solubility pump," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Liao Chang & Babette A. A. Hoogakker & David Heslop & Xiang Zhao & Andrew P. Roberts & Patrick Deckker & Pengfei Xue & Zhaowen Pei & Fan Zeng & Rong Huang & Baoqi Huang & Shishun Wang & Thomas A. Bern, 2023. "Indian Ocean glacial deoxygenation and respired carbon accumulation during mid-late Quaternary ice ages," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    4. James A. Menking & Sarah A. Shackleton & Thomas K. Bauska & Aron M. Buffen & Edward J. Brook & Stephen Barker & Jeffrey P. Severinghaus & Michael N. Dyonisius & Vasilii V. Petrenko, 2022. "Multiple carbon cycle mechanisms associated with the glaciation of Marine Isotope Stage 4," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Shinya Iwasaki & Lester Lembke-Jene & Kana Nagashima & Helge W. Arz & Naomi Harada & Katsunori Kimoto & Frank Lamy, 2022. "Evidence for late-glacial oceanic carbon redistribution and discharge from the Pacific Southern Ocean," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Zhengquan Yao & Xuefa Shi & Qiuzhen Yin & Samuel Jaccard & Yanguang Liu & Zhengtang Guo & Sergey A. Gorbarenko & Kunshan Wang & Tianyu Chen & Zhipeng Wu & Qingyun Nan & Jianjun Zou & Hongmin Wang & Ji, 2024. "Ice sheet and precession controlled subarctic Pacific productivity and upwelling over the last 550,000 years," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    7. Babette A. A. Hoogakker & Caroline Anderson & Tommaso Paoloni & Andrew Stott & Helen Grant & Patrick Keenan & Claire Mahaffey & Sabena Blackbird & Erin L. McClymont & Ros Rickaby & Alex Poulton & Vict, 2022. "Planktonic foraminifera organic carbon isotopes as archives of upper ocean carbon cycling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-8, December.
    8. Michael E. Weber & Ian Bailey & Sidney R. Hemming & Yasmina M. Martos & Brendan T. Reilly & Thomas A. Ronge & Stefanie Brachfeld & Trevor Williams & Maureen Raymo & Simon T. Belt & Lukas Smik & Hendri, 2022. "Antiphased dust deposition and productivity in the Antarctic Zone over 1.5 million years," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-18, December.

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