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Dissolved Organic Radiocarbon in the Central Pacific Ocean
Author(s) -
Druffel Ellen R. M.,
Griffin Sheila,
Wang Ning,
Garcia Noreen G.,
McNichol Ann P.,
Key Robert M.,
Walker Brett D.
Publication year - 2019
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 - 10.1029/2019gl083149
Subject(s) - downwelling , upwelling , dissolved organic carbon , oceanography , seawater , geology , radiocarbon dating , subtropics , total organic carbon , pacific ocean , surface water , environmental science , environmental chemistry , chemistry , paleontology , environmental engineering , fishery , biology
We report marine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, and DOC ∆ 14 C and δ 13 C values in seawater collected from the central Pacific. Surface ∆ 14 C values are low in equatorial and polar regions where upwelling occurs and high in subtropical regions dominated by downwelling. A core feature of these data is that 14 C aging of DOC (682 ± 86 14 C years) and dissolved inorganic carbon (643 ± 40 14 C years) in Antarctic Bottom Water between 54.0°S and 53.5°N are similar. These estimates of aging are minimum values due to mixing with deep waters. We also observe minimum ∆ 14 C values (−550‰ to −570‰) between the depths of 2,000 and 3,500 m in the North Pacific, though the source of the low values cannot be determined at this time.