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A 23,000-year record of surface water pH and PCO2 in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean

A 23,000-year record of surface water pH and PCO2 in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean
A 23,000-year record of surface water pH and PCO2 in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean
The oceans play a major role in defining atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, and although the geographical distribution of CO2 uptake and release in the modern ocean is understood, little is known about past distributions. Boron isotope studies of planktonic foraminifera from the western equatorial Pacific show that this area was a strong source of CO2 to the atmosphere between approximately 13,800 and 15,600 years ago. This observation is most compatible with increased frequency of La Niña conditions during this interval. Hence, increased upwelling in the eastern equatorial Pacific may have played an important role in the rise in atmospheric CO2 during the last deglaciation.
carbon dioxide, boron isotopes, foraminifera, Pacific Ocean, upwelling, meteorology
0036-8075
480-482
Palmer, M.R.
d2e60e81-5d6e-4ddb-a243-602537286080
Pearson, P.N.
a96a4f03-ca65-4d4d-a1a3-1a471ebe6d5a
Palmer, M.R.
d2e60e81-5d6e-4ddb-a243-602537286080
Pearson, P.N.
a96a4f03-ca65-4d4d-a1a3-1a471ebe6d5a

Palmer, M.R. and Pearson, P.N. (2003) A 23,000-year record of surface water pH and PCO2 in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean. Science, 300 (5618), 480-482. (doi:10.1126/science.1080796).

Record type: Article

Abstract

The oceans play a major role in defining atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, and although the geographical distribution of CO2 uptake and release in the modern ocean is understood, little is known about past distributions. Boron isotope studies of planktonic foraminifera from the western equatorial Pacific show that this area was a strong source of CO2 to the atmosphere between approximately 13,800 and 15,600 years ago. This observation is most compatible with increased frequency of La Niña conditions during this interval. Hence, increased upwelling in the eastern equatorial Pacific may have played an important role in the rise in atmospheric CO2 during the last deglaciation.

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Published date: 2003
Keywords: carbon dioxide, boron isotopes, foraminifera, Pacific Ocean, upwelling, meteorology

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 2002
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/2002
ISSN: 0036-8075
PURE UUID: e81edc4f-4dd5-4977-8e04-519064eecee4

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Date deposited: 07 May 2004
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 04:44

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Contributors

Author: M.R. Palmer
Author: P.N. Pearson

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