Comment on "Mixed-Layer Deepening During Heinrich Events: A Multi-Planktonic Foraminiferal δ 18 O Approach"

Rashid and Boyle (Reports, 19 October 2007, p. 439) analyzed oxygen isotopes in planktonic foraminera from marine sediments and concluded that Heinrich events (massive iceberg discharges into the North Atlantic Ocean) caused upper water masses to deepen. We question the robustness of this interpreta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science
Main Authors: Hillaire-Marcel, Claude, de Vernal, Anne
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2008
Subjects:
North Atlantic
Sea ice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1153316
https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1153316
Description
Summary:Rashid and Boyle (Reports, 19 October 2007, p. 439) analyzed oxygen isotopes in planktonic foraminera from marine sediments and concluded that Heinrich events (massive iceberg discharges into the North Atlantic Ocean) caused upper water masses to deepen. We question the robustness of this interpretation and argue that a strongly stratified mixed layer characterized by dense sea-ice cover and production of oxygen-18–depleted brines likely prevailed during such events.

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