Old radiocarbon ages in the southwest Pacific Ocean during the last glacial period and deglaciation
Marine radiocarbon (14C) dates are widely used for dating oceanic events and as tracers of ocean circulation, essential components for understanding ocean-climate interactions. Past ocean ventilation rates have been determined by the difference between radiocarbon ages of deep-water and surface-wate...
Published in: | Nature |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MacMillan Publishers Ltd
2000
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/35014581 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/19309 |
id |
ftunivtasecite:oai:ecite.utas.edu.au:19309 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftunivtasecite:oai:ecite.utas.edu.au:19309 2023-05-15T13:59:07+02:00 Old radiocarbon ages in the southwest Pacific Ocean during the last glacial period and deglaciation Sikes, EL Samson, CR Guilderson, TP Howard, W 2000 https://doi.org/10.1038/35014581 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/19309 en eng MacMillan Publishers Ltd http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/35014581 Sikes, EL and Samson, CR and Guilderson, TP and Howard, W, Old radiocarbon ages in the southwest Pacific Ocean during the last glacial period and deglaciation, Nature, 405, (6786) pp. 555-559. ISSN 0028-0836 (2000) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/19309 Earth Sciences Geology Geology not elsewhere classified Refereed Article PeerReviewed 2000 ftunivtasecite https://doi.org/10.1038/35014581 2019-12-13T21:02:00Z Marine radiocarbon (14C) dates are widely used for dating oceanic events and as tracers of ocean circulation, essential components for understanding ocean-climate interactions. Past ocean ventilation rates have been determined by the difference between radiocarbon ages of deep-water and surface-water reservoirs, but the apparent age of surface waters (currently ~400 years in the tropics and ~1,200 years in Antarctic waters) might not be constant through time, as has been assumed in radiocarbon chronologies and palaeoclimate studies. Here we present independent estimates of surface-water and deep-water reservoir ages in the New Zealand region since the last glacial period, using volcanic ejecta (tephras) deposited in both marine and terrestrial sediments as stratigraphic markers. Compared to present-day values, surface-reservoir ages from 11,900 14C years ago were twice as large (800 years) and during glacial times were five times as large (2,000 years), contradicting the assumption of constant surface age. Furthermore, the ages of glacial deepwater reservoirs were much older (3,000-5,000 years). The increase in surface-to-deep water age differences in the glacial Southern Ocean suggests that there was decreased ocean ventilation during this period. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Southern Ocean eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) Antarctic Southern Ocean Pacific New Zealand Nature 405 6786 555 559 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
eCite UTAS (University of Tasmania) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivtasecite |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth Sciences Geology Geology not elsewhere classified |
spellingShingle |
Earth Sciences Geology Geology not elsewhere classified Sikes, EL Samson, CR Guilderson, TP Howard, W Old radiocarbon ages in the southwest Pacific Ocean during the last glacial period and deglaciation |
topic_facet |
Earth Sciences Geology Geology not elsewhere classified |
description |
Marine radiocarbon (14C) dates are widely used for dating oceanic events and as tracers of ocean circulation, essential components for understanding ocean-climate interactions. Past ocean ventilation rates have been determined by the difference between radiocarbon ages of deep-water and surface-water reservoirs, but the apparent age of surface waters (currently ~400 years in the tropics and ~1,200 years in Antarctic waters) might not be constant through time, as has been assumed in radiocarbon chronologies and palaeoclimate studies. Here we present independent estimates of surface-water and deep-water reservoir ages in the New Zealand region since the last glacial period, using volcanic ejecta (tephras) deposited in both marine and terrestrial sediments as stratigraphic markers. Compared to present-day values, surface-reservoir ages from 11,900 14C years ago were twice as large (800 years) and during glacial times were five times as large (2,000 years), contradicting the assumption of constant surface age. Furthermore, the ages of glacial deepwater reservoirs were much older (3,000-5,000 years). The increase in surface-to-deep water age differences in the glacial Southern Ocean suggests that there was decreased ocean ventilation during this period. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Sikes, EL Samson, CR Guilderson, TP Howard, W |
author_facet |
Sikes, EL Samson, CR Guilderson, TP Howard, W |
author_sort |
Sikes, EL |
title |
Old radiocarbon ages in the southwest Pacific Ocean during the last glacial period and deglaciation |
title_short |
Old radiocarbon ages in the southwest Pacific Ocean during the last glacial period and deglaciation |
title_full |
Old radiocarbon ages in the southwest Pacific Ocean during the last glacial period and deglaciation |
title_fullStr |
Old radiocarbon ages in the southwest Pacific Ocean during the last glacial period and deglaciation |
title_full_unstemmed |
Old radiocarbon ages in the southwest Pacific Ocean during the last glacial period and deglaciation |
title_sort |
old radiocarbon ages in the southwest pacific ocean during the last glacial period and deglaciation |
publisher |
MacMillan Publishers Ltd |
publishDate |
2000 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1038/35014581 http://ecite.utas.edu.au/19309 |
geographic |
Antarctic Southern Ocean Pacific New Zealand |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Southern Ocean Pacific New Zealand |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Southern Ocean |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Southern Ocean |
op_relation |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/35014581 Sikes, EL and Samson, CR and Guilderson, TP and Howard, W, Old radiocarbon ages in the southwest Pacific Ocean during the last glacial period and deglaciation, Nature, 405, (6786) pp. 555-559. ISSN 0028-0836 (2000) [Refereed Article] http://ecite.utas.edu.au/19309 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1038/35014581 |
container_title |
Nature |
container_volume |
405 |
container_issue |
6786 |
container_start_page |
555 |
op_container_end_page |
559 |
_version_ |
1766267505516478464 |