An evaluation of benthic foraminiferal B/Ca and δ11B for deep ocean carbonate ion and pH reconstructions

Yu, Jimin and Foster, Gavin L. and Elderfield, Henry and Broecker, Wallace S. and Clark, Elizabeth (2010) An evaluation of benthic foraminiferal B/Ca and δ11B for deep ocean carbonate ion and pH reconstructions. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 293 (1-2). p. 114. ISSN 0012821X DOI 10.1016/j.epsl.2010.02.029

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Abstract

Reliable reconstructions of deep ocean carbonate ion concentration, [CO32−], and pH are crucial to understand mechanisms responsible for the past atmospheric CO2 variations observed in ice cores. However, it is challenging to reconstruct past deep water [CO32−] and pH and literature results from different proxies conflict, warranting careful investigations on possible reasons for the existing inconsistencies. Here, we present the first down core B/Ca and δ11B records measured in an epifaunal benthic foraminifer Cibicidoides wuellerstorfi from the Caribbean Sea during the last 160 kyr. The two proxies yield quantitatively comparable deep water [CO3 2−] and pH results, showing high values during glacials relative to inter-glacials (differences in [CO32−] and pH are ∼35 μmol/kg and ∼0.15, respectively), consistent with past ocean circulation changes in the Caribbean Sea. Our data provide convincing evidence that both proxies serve as faithful proxies to estimate deep ocean [CO32−] and pH, despite our incomplete understanding of boron incorporation into foraminiferal carbonates.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	09AREP; IA60;
Subjects:	01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems
Divisions:	01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems
Journal or Publication Title:	Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Volume:	293
Page Range:	p. 114
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.epsl.2010.02.029
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	25 May 2010 09:34
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2013 09:57
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/1402

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