Open AccessResearch Spotlight: Simulating ocean carbon storage during the Last Glacial Maximum
Author(s) -
Tretkoff Ernie
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2011eo100011
Subject(s) - glacial period , last glacial maximum , carbon dioxide in earth's atmosphere , carbon dioxide , oceanography , environmental science , carbon cycle , stratification (seeds) , atmospheric sciences , iron fertilization , isotopes of carbon , climatology , geology , climate change , total organic carbon , chemistry , environmental chemistry , paleontology , ecosystem , phytoplankton , seed dormancy , ecology , germination , botany , organic chemistry , dormancy , nutrient , biology
During the cold period of the Last Glacial Maximum, about 21,000 years ago, atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 )concentration was about 190 parts per million, compared to 280 parts per million in the preindustrial era and about 385 parts per million today. While less carbon was stored in the atmosphere during the Last Glacial Maximum, the oceans probably held more carbon. Atmospheric carbon isotope ratios (δ 13 C) were similar to today's values, but the oceans had a steeper surface‐to‐deep gradient in δ 13 C. Previous simulations had trouble simulating simultaneously atmospheric CO 2 levels and oceanic δ 13 C. To reconcile both data, Bouttes et al. ran simulations including a new combination of three mechanisms: brine‐induced ocean stratification, stratification‐dependent diffusion, and iron fertilization. Including these effects made it possible to account for the recorded glacial carbon cycle changes, reconciling the Last Glacial Maximum δ 13 C values and atmospheric CO 2 levels. ( Geophysical Research Letters , doi:10.1029/2010GL044499, 2011)