Abstract
Antarctic ice-core data reveal that the atmosphere experienced abrupt centennial increases in CO<inf>2</inf> concentration during the last deglaciation (∼18 thousand to 11 thousand years ago). Establishing the role of ocean circulation in these changes requires highresolution, accurately dated marine records. Here, we report radiocarbon data from uranium-thorium-dated deep-sea corals in the Equatorial Atlantic and Drake Passage over the past 25,000 years. Two major deglacial radiocarbon shifts occurred in phase with centennial atmospheric CO<inf>2</inf> rises at 14.8 thousand and 11.7 thousand years ago. We interpret these radiocarbon-enriched signals to represent two short-lived (less than 500 years) "overshoot" events, with Atlantic meridional overturning stronger than that of the modern era. These results provide compelling evidence for a close coupling of ocean circulation and centennial climate events during the last deglaciation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1537-1541 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Science |
Volume | 349 |
Issue number | 6255 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 25 Sept 2015 |
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Professor Laura F Robinson
- School of Earth Sciences - Professor of Geochemistry
- Marine and Terrestrial Environments
- Geochemistry
- Cabot Institute for the Environment
Person: Academic , Member