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Radiocarbon in dissolved organic carbon of the Atlantic Ocean
Author(s) -
Druffel E. R. M.,
Griffin S.,
Coppola A. I.,
Walker B. D.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl068746
Subject(s) - dissolved organic carbon , radiocarbon dating , oceanography , deep sea , geology , north atlantic deep water , total organic carbon , carbon fibers , deep water , thermohaline circulation , environmental science , environmental chemistry , paleontology , chemistry , materials science , composite number , composite material
Marine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is produced in the surface ocean though its radiocarbon ( 14 C) age in the deep ocean is thousands of years old. Here we show that ≥10% of the DOC in the deep North Atlantic is of postbomb origin and that the 14 C age of the prebomb DOC is ≥4900 14 C year, ~900 14 C year older than previous estimates. We report 14 C ages of DOC in the deep South Atlantic that are intermediate between values in the North Atlantic and the Southern Ocean. Finally, we conclude that prebomb DOC 14 C ages are older and a portion of deep DOC is more dynamic than previously reported.