Premium
Isotopic Characterization of Water Masses in the Southeast Pacific Region: Paleoceanographic Implications
Author(s) -
ReyesMacaya Dharma,
Hoogakker Babette,
MartínezMéndez Gema,
Llanillo Pedro J.,
Grasse Patricia,
Mohtadi Mahyar,
Mix Alan,
Leng Melanie J.,
Struck Ulrich,
McCorkle Daniel C.,
Troncoso Macarena,
Gayo Eugenia M.,
Lange Carina B.,
Farias Laura,
Carhuapoma Wilson,
Graco Michelle,
CornejoD’Ottone Marcela,
De Pol Holz Ricardo,
Fernandez Camila,
Narvaez Diego,
Vargas Cristian A.,
GarcíaAraya Francisco,
Hebbeln Dierk
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: oceans
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9291
pISSN - 2169-9275
DOI - 10.1029/2021jc017525
Subject(s) - antarctic intermediate water , oceanography , water mass , geology , paleoceanography , circumpolar deep water , salinity , isotopes of oxygen , deep water , north atlantic deep water , geochemistry
In this study, we used stable isotopes of oxygen (δ 18 O), deuterium (δD), and dissolved inorganic carbon (δ 13 C DIC ) in combination with temperature, salinity, oxygen, and nutrient concentrations to characterize the coastal (71°–78°W) and an oceanic (82°–98°W) water masses (SAAW—Subantarctic Surface Water; STW—Subtropical Water; ESSW—Equatorial Subsurface water; AAIW—Antarctic Intermediate Water; PDW—Pacific Deep Water) of the Southeast Pacific (SEP). The results show that δ 18 O and δD can be used to differentiate between SAAW‐STW, SAAW‐ESSW, and ESSW‐AAIW. δ 13 C DIC signatures can be used to differentiate between STW‐ESSW (oceanic section), SAAW‐ESSW, ESSW‐AAIW, and AAIW‐PDW. Compared with the oceanic section, our new coastal section highlights differences in both the chemistry and geometry of water masses above 1,000 m. Previous paleoceanographic studies using marine sediments from the SEP continental margin used the present‐day hydrological oceanic transect to compare against, as the coastal section was not sufficiently characterized. We suggest that our new results of the coastal section should be used for past characterizations of the SEP water masses that are usually based on continental margin sediment samples.