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Increase of atmospheric CO 2 during deglaciation: Constraints on the coral reef hypothesis from patterns of deposition
Author(s) -
Vecsei Adam,
Berger Wolfgang H.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
global biogeochemical cycles
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.512
H-Index - 187
eISSN - 1944-9224
pISSN - 0886-6236
DOI - 10.1029/2003gb002147
Subject(s) - deglaciation , reef , coral reef , carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere , oceanography , carbon dioxide , carbonate , coral , carbon flux , deposition (geology) , geology , carbon cycle , environmental science , great barrier reef , holocene , climate change , ecosystem , sediment , ecology , geomorphology , chemistry , biology , organic chemistry
The “coral reef hypothesis” asserts that carbonate production on newly flooded shelves contributes importantly to the rise of atmospheric carbon dioxide during deglaciation. We seek to constrain the timing and strength of such carbon dioxide flux by re‐assessing reef and platform distribution in the world ocean. The pattern of reef growth that emerges suggests that emission of CO 2 resulting from carbonate production was important particularly during the late stages of deglaciation. The effect peaked during the early Holocene and presumably contributed to the warming in the climatic optimum.