Impact of iceberg melting on Mediterranean thermohaline circulation during Heinrich events.

Sierro, F. J. and Hodell, D. A. and Curtis, J. H. and Flores, J. A. and Reguera, I. and Colmenero-Hidalgo, E. and Barcena, M. A. and Grimalt, J. O. and Cacho, I. and Frigola, J. and Canals, M. (2005) Impact of iceberg melting on Mediterranean thermohaline circulation during Heinrich events. Paleoceanography, 20 (2). ISSN 0883-8305 DOI 10.1029/2004PA001051

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Abstract

Down-core samples of planktonic and benthic foraminifera were analyzed for oxygen and carbon isotopes in International Marine Past Global Changes Study (IMAGES) core MD99-2343 in order to study the interactions between climate change in the Northern Hemisphere and the western Mediterranean thermohaline circulation at times of Heinrich events (HE). Our results confirm the antiphase correlation between enhanced North Atlantic Deep Water formation and low ventilation in the Mediterranean. However, this study reveals that this antiphase relationship in deepwater formation between the North Atlantic and Mediterranean was interrupted during times of HE when the injection of large volumes of water from melting icebergs reached the entrance to the Mediterranean. These events, which lasted less than 1000 years, are represented by pronounced decreases in both planktonic d18O and benthic d13C signals. Lower salinities of Mediterranean surface water resulted in a slowdown of western Mediterranean deepwater overturn even though cold sea surface temperatures and drier climate should have resulted in enhanced deepwater formation.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	NIL AREP;
Subjects:	01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems
Divisions:	01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems
Journal or Publication Title:	Paleoceanography
Volume:	20
Identification Number:	10.1029/2004PA001051
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	17 Aug 2010 13:33
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2013 09:59
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/1825

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