Grunert, Patrick and Skinner, Luke and Hodell, David A. and Piller, Werner E. (2015) A micropalaeontological perspective on export productivity, oxygenation and temperature in NE Atlantic deep-waters across Terminations I and II. Global and Planetary Change, 131. pp. 174-191. ISSN 09218181 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2015.06.002
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Abstract
Census counts of benthic foraminifera were studied from the SW Iberian Margin to reconstruct past changes in deep-water hydrography across Terminations I and II. Detailed benthic faunal data (> 125 μm size-fraction) allow us to evaluate the limitations imposed by taphonomic processes and restricted size-fractions. The comparison of recent (mudline) and fossil assemblages at IODP Site U1385 indicates the quick post-mortem disintegration of shells of astrorhizoid taxa (~ 80% of the present-day fauna), resulting in impoverished fossil assemblages. While the application of quantitative proxy methods is problematic under these circumstances, the fossil assemblages can still provide a qualitative palaeoenvironmental signal that, while most fully expressed in the 125–212 μm size-fraction, is nonetheless also expressed to some degree in the > 212 μm size-fraction. Variations in the benthic foraminiferal assemblages reveal information about changing organic matter supply, deep-water oxygenation and temperature. MIS 2 is generally characterized by an elevated trophic state and variable oxic conditions, with oxygenation minima culminating in the Younger Dryas (YD) and Heinrich Stadials (HS) 1, 2 and 3. Low oxic conditions coincide with decreased water-temperature and lower benthic δ13C, pointing to the strong influence of a southern sourced water-mass during these periods. HS 1 is the most extreme of these intervals, providing further evidence for a severe temporary reduction or even shutdown of AMOC. With the inception of MIS 1, organic matter supply reduced and a better ventilated deep-water environment bathed by NEADW is established. For Termination II, clear indications of southern-sourced water are limited to the early phase of HS 11. During the latter part of HS 11, the deep-water environment seems to be determined by strongly increased supply of organic matter, potentially explaining the decoupling of benthic δ13C and Mg/Ca records of earlier studies as a phytodetritus effect on the carbon isotope signal. However, the presence of a warm, nutrient-rich and poorly oxygenated water-mass cannot be ruled out. With the inception of interglacial MIS 5e trophic conditions are reduced and ventilation by NEADW increases.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | 2015AREP; IA68 |
Subjects: | 01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems |
Divisions: | 01 - Climate Change and Earth-Ocean Atmosphere Systems 07 - Gold Open Access |
Journal or Publication Title: | Global and Planetary Change |
Volume: | 131 |
Page Range: | pp. 174-191 |
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2015.06.002 |
Depositing User: | Sarah Humbert |
Date Deposited: | 18 Apr 2017 20:46 |
Last Modified: | 18 Apr 2017 20:46 |
URI: | http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/3941 |
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