Sea-Level Estimates during the Last Deglaciation Based on δ 18 O and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry 14 C Ages Measured in Globigerina bulloides

• Published in: Quaternary Research
• Main Authors: Bard, Edouard, Fairbanks, Richard, Arnold, Maurice, Maurice, Pierre, Duprat, Josette, Moyes, Jean, Duplessy, Jean-Claude
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1989
• Subjects: North Atlantic; Planktonic foraminifera
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0033-5894(89)90045-8; http://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:0033589489900458?httpAccept=text/xml; http://api.elsevier.com/content/article/PII:0033589489900458?httpAccept=text/plain; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S003358940001975X

Abstract Coupled measurements of δ 18 O and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14 C in a particular species of planktonic foraminifera may be used to calculate sea-level estimates for the last deglaciation. Of critical importance for this type of study is a knowledge of the seasonality of foraminiferal growth, which can be provided by δ 18 O measurements of modern shells (core tops, plankton tows). Isotopic (δ 18 O, AMS- 14 C dating) and faunal records (transfer function sea surface temperature) were obtained from two cores in the North Atlantic at about 37°N. The locations were chosen to obtain high sedimentation rate records removed from the major ice-melt discharge areas of the last deglaciation. Based upon Globigerina bulloides data, four δ 18 O-based sea-level estimates were calculated: −67 ± 7 m at 12,200 yr B.P. and −24 ± 8 m at about 8200 yr B.P. for core SU 81-18; −83 ± 10 m at 12,200 yr B.P. and −13 ± 11 m at about 8500 yr B.P. for core SU 81-14. Using a second working hypothesis concerning the seasonability of G. bulloides growth, it is suggested that the sea-level rose by about 40 m during the millennium which followed 14,500 yr B.P.