Large δ 13 C Gradients in the Preindustrial North Atlantic Revealed

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Olsen, Are, Ninnemann, Ulysses
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2010
• Subjects: North Atlantic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1193769; https://www.science.org/doi/pdf/10.1126/science.1193769

Lost Details Changes in ocean circulation are commonly inferred by differences between the distribution of carbon isotopes in the past and now, but making such comparisons neglects the fact that modern fossil fuel burning has modified the carbon isotopic composition of the ocean. This in turn obscures details about recent mass movement of water. Olsen and Ninnemann (p. 658 ) correct for this effect in the North Atlantic and show that the natural distribution of carbon isotopes has more detail and is clearly related to water mass distributions. The results change some important ideas about glacial-interglacial ocean variations within the context of modern climate variability.