Global reorganization of deep-sea circulation and carbon storage after the last ice age

Patrick A. Rafter; William R. Gray; Sophia K.V. Hines; Andrea Burke; Kassandra M. Costa; Julia Gottschalk; Mathis P. Hain; James W.B. Rae; John R. Southon; Maureen H. Walczak; Jimin Yu; Jess F. Adkins; Timothy DeVries

doi:10.1126/sciadv.abq5434

Global reorganization of deep-sea circulation and carbon storage after the last ice age

Patrick A. Rafter^*, William R. Gray, Sophia K.V. Hines, Andrea Burke, Kassandra M. Costa, Julia Gottschalk, Mathis P. Hain, James W.B. Rae, John R. Southon, Maureen H. Walczak, Jimin Yu, Jess F. Adkins, Timothy DeVries

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research School of Earth Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

42 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Using new and published marine fossil radiocarbon (¹⁴C/C) measurements, a tracer uniquely sensitive to circulation and air-sea gas exchange, we establish several benchmarks for Atlantic, Southern, and Pacific deep-sea circulation and ventilation since the last ice age. We find the most ¹⁴C-depleted water in glacial Pacific bottom depths, rather than the mid-depths as they are today, which is best explained by a slowdown in glacial deep-sea overturning in addition to a “flipped” glacial Pacific overturning configuration. These observations cannot be produced by changes in air-sea gas exchange alone, and they underscore the major role for changes in the overturning circulation for glacial deep-sea carbon storage in the vast Pacific abyss and the concomitant drawdown of atmospheric CO₂.

Original language	English
Article number	eabq5434
Number of pages	9
Journal	Science advances
Volume	8
Issue number	46
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abq5434
Publication status	Published - Nov 2022

Access to Document

10.1126/sciadv.abq5434

Cite this

@article{a668bfebad2c4d04a7d7c288786c5109,

title = "Global reorganization of deep-sea circulation and carbon storage after the last ice age",

abstract = "Using new and published marine fossil radiocarbon (14C/C) measurements, a tracer uniquely sensitive to circulation and air-sea gas exchange, we establish several benchmarks for Atlantic, Southern, and Pacific deep-sea circulation and ventilation since the last ice age. We find the most 14C-depleted water in glacial Pacific bottom depths, rather than the mid-depths as they are today, which is best explained by a slowdown in glacial deep-sea overturning in addition to a “flipped” glacial Pacific overturning configuration. These observations cannot be produced by changes in air-sea gas exchange alone, and they underscore the major role for changes in the overturning circulation for glacial deep-sea carbon storage in the vast Pacific abyss and the concomitant drawdown of atmospheric CO2.",

author = "Rafter, {Patrick A.} and Gray, {William R.} and Hines, {Sophia K.V.} and Andrea Burke and Costa, {Kassandra M.} and Julia Gottschalk and Hain, {Mathis P.} and Rae, {James W.B.} and Southon, {John R.} and Walczak, {Maureen H.} and Jimin Yu and Adkins, {Jess F.} and Timothy DeVries",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2022 The Authors, some rights reserved;",

year = "2022",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1126/sciadv.abq5434",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

journal = "Science advances",

issn = "2375-2548",

publisher = "American Association for the Advancement of Science",

number = "46",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Global reorganization of deep-sea circulation and carbon storage after the last ice age

AU - Rafter, Patrick A.

AU - Gray, William R.

AU - Hines, Sophia K.V.

AU - Burke, Andrea

AU - Costa, Kassandra M.

AU - Gottschalk, Julia

AU - Hain, Mathis P.

AU - Rae, James W.B.

AU - Southon, John R.

AU - Walczak, Maureen H.

AU - Yu, Jimin

AU - Adkins, Jess F.

AU - DeVries, Timothy

PY - 2022/11

Y1 - 2022/11

N2 - Using new and published marine fossil radiocarbon (14C/C) measurements, a tracer uniquely sensitive to circulation and air-sea gas exchange, we establish several benchmarks for Atlantic, Southern, and Pacific deep-sea circulation and ventilation since the last ice age. We find the most 14C-depleted water in glacial Pacific bottom depths, rather than the mid-depths as they are today, which is best explained by a slowdown in glacial deep-sea overturning in addition to a “flipped” glacial Pacific overturning configuration. These observations cannot be produced by changes in air-sea gas exchange alone, and they underscore the major role for changes in the overturning circulation for glacial deep-sea carbon storage in the vast Pacific abyss and the concomitant drawdown of atmospheric CO2.

AB - Using new and published marine fossil radiocarbon (14C/C) measurements, a tracer uniquely sensitive to circulation and air-sea gas exchange, we establish several benchmarks for Atlantic, Southern, and Pacific deep-sea circulation and ventilation since the last ice age. We find the most 14C-depleted water in glacial Pacific bottom depths, rather than the mid-depths as they are today, which is best explained by a slowdown in glacial deep-sea overturning in addition to a “flipped” glacial Pacific overturning configuration. These observations cannot be produced by changes in air-sea gas exchange alone, and they underscore the major role for changes in the overturning circulation for glacial deep-sea carbon storage in the vast Pacific abyss and the concomitant drawdown of atmospheric CO2.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85142144824&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1126/sciadv.abq5434

DO - 10.1126/sciadv.abq5434

M3 - Article

C2 - 36383653

AN - SCOPUS:85142144824

SN - 2375-2548

VL - 8

JO - Science advances

JF - Science advances

IS - 46

M1 - eabq5434

ER -

Global reorganization of deep-sea circulation and carbon storage after the last ice age

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this