An oceanic origin for the increase of atmospheric radiocarbon during the Younger Dryas

JS Singarayer, DA Richards, AJ Ridgwell, PJ Valdes, WEN Austin, JW Beck

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

43 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Variations in carbon-14 to carbon-12 ratio in the atmosphere (Δ14Catm) provide a powerful diagnostic for elucidating the timing and nature of geophysical and anthropological change. The (Atlantic) marine archive suggests a rapid Δ14Catm increase of 50‰ at the onset of the Younger Dryas (YD) cold reversal (12.9-11.7 kyr BP), which has not yet been satisfactorily explained in terms of magnitude or causal mechanism, as either a change in ocean ventilation or production rate. Using Earth-system model simulations and comparison of marine-based radiocarbon records from different ocean basins, we demonstrate that the YD Δ14Catm increase is smaller than suggested by the marine archive. This is due to changes in reservoir age, predominantly caused by reduced ocean ventilation.
Translated title of the contributionAn oceanic origin for the increase of atmospheric radiocarbon during the Younger Dryas
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1 - 6
Number of pages6
JournalGeophysical Research Letters
Volume35 (L147047)
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2008

Bibliographical note

Publisher: American Geophysical Union

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'An oceanic origin for the increase of atmospheric radiocarbon during the Younger Dryas'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this