Open AccessPaleoproductivity, ventilation, and organic carbon burial in the Santa Barbara Basin (ODP Site 893, off California) since the last glacial
Author(s) -
Nederbragt Alexandra J.,
Thurow Jürgen W.,
Bown Paul R.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
paleoceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1944-9186
pISSN - 0883-8305
DOI - 10.1029/2007pa001501
Subject(s) - coccolith , geology , oceanography , total organic carbon , carbonate , structural basin , glacial period , water column , carbon fibers , total inorganic carbon , bottom water , carbon cycle , paleontology , carbon dioxide , environmental chemistry , ecosystem , ecology , composite number , composite material , chemistry , materials science , metallurgy , biology
Biogenic burial rates and coccolith assemblage data were generated for the past 16 ka at ODP Site 893 in the Santa Barbara Basin, off California, to determine if dysoxic events in the basin were related to changes in marine productivity. Coccolith abundance data show that changes in surface water conditions did indeed change in concert with oxygen levels at the sea floor. However, organic carbon burial rates varied independently, indicating that oxygenation of the water column is related mainly to intermediate water ventilation. A strong correlation of organic carbon burial rates with lithogenic, and to a lesser extent with carbonate and opal accumulation rates confirms recent conclusions that the export of organic carbon from the sea surface is largely controlled by the presence of ballast minerals.