Open AccessDistribution of carbonate ion in the deep ocean: Support for a post‐Little Ice Age change in Southern Ocean ventilation?
Author(s) -
Broecker Wallace S.,
Sutherland Stewart
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
geochemistry, geophysics, geosystems
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.928
H-Index - 136
ISSN - 1525-2027
DOI - 10.1029/2000gc000039
Subject(s) - thermohaline circulation , geology , oceanography , circumpolar deep water , carbonate , carbonate ion , ice age , deep sea , ocean heat content , ocean dynamics , deep water , indian ocean , ocean current , water mass , climatology , north atlantic deep water , paleontology , glacial period , chemistry , organic chemistry
The distribution of CO 3 = ion concentrations in the deep sea proves difficult to reconcile with a steady state thermohaline circulation. The problem is that assuming steady state, we cannot come up with any satisfactory explanation for the 28 μ mol/kg deficiency of CO 3 = ion concentration in deep Pacific and Indian Ocean water relative to that for the source water mix. However, following Broecker et al. [1999], if we assume that during the Little Ice Age, deep water formation in the Southern Ocean was not only much stronger than now but also had lower PO 4 * and CO 3 = concentrations, then this anomaly can be explained.