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
480-482
Palmer, M.R.
d2e60e81-5d6e-4ddb-a243-602537286080
Pearson, P.N.
a96a4f03-ca65-4d4d-a1a3-1a471ebe6d5a
2003
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), .
(doi:10.1126/science.1080796).
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.
This record has no associated files available for download.
More information
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
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 07 May 2004
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 04:44
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
P.N. Pearson
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics