Contribution of Southern Ocean surface-water stratification to low atmospheric CO2 concentrations during the last glacial period

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 389; no. 6654; pp. 929 - 935
• Main Authors: FRANCOIS, R, ALTABET, M. A, YU, E.-F, SIGMAN, D. M, BACON, M. P, FRANK, M, BOHRMANN, G, BAREILLE, G, LABEYRIE, L. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing 30.10.1997; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Carbon dioxide; Continental interfaces, environment; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Geological time; Isotope geochemistry; Isotope geochemistry. Geochronology; Marine; Marine and continental quaternary; Ocean, Atmosphere; Oceanography; Sciences of the Universe; Surficial geology; Southern Ocean; PS, Antarctic Ocean; stratification; upper Quaternary; paleoclimate; nutrients; drill cores; paleoatmosphere; phytoplankton; silicates; plankton; framework silicates; Cenozoic; organic carbon; marine sediments; carbon dioxide; stable isotopes; deep-sea environment; Quaternary; N-15; surface water; upper Pleistocene; glaciation; Th-230; Antarctic Ocean; opal; Pa-231; Phanerozoic; Holocene; Pleistocene
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687
• DOI: 10.1038/40073

Francois et al suggest that reduction of the CO2 "leak" from ocean to atmosphere by increased surface-water stratification south of the Polar Front made a greater contribution to the lowering of atmospheric CO2 concentrations during the Last Glacial Maximum than did the increased export of organic carbon from surfaces to deep waters occuring further north.