Multiple carbon cycle mechanisms associated with the glaciation of Marine Isotope Stage 4

Menking, James A.; Shackleton, Sarah A.; Bauska, Thomas K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1901-0367; Buffen, Aron M.; Brook, Edward J.; Barker, Stephen; Severinghaus, Jeffrey P.; Dyonisius, Michael N.; Petrenko, Vasilii V.. 2022 Multiple carbon cycle mechanisms associated with the glaciation of Marine Isotope Stage 4. Nature Communications, 13 (1), 5443. 10, pp. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33166-3

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Abstract/Summary

Here we use high-precision carbon isotope data (δ13C-CO2) to show atmospheric CO2 during Marine Isotope Stage 4 (MIS 4, ~70.5-59 ka) was controlled by a succession of millennial-scale processes. Enriched δ13C-CO2 during peak glaciation suggests increased ocean carbon storage. Variations in δ13C-CO2 in early MIS 4 suggest multiple processes were active during CO2 drawdown, potentially including decreased land carbon and decreased Southern Ocean air-sea gas exchange superposed on increased ocean carbon storage. CO2 remained low during MIS 4 while δ13C-CO2 fluctuations suggest changes in Southern Ocean and North Atlantic air-sea gas exchange. A 7 ppm increase in CO2 at the onset of Dansgaard-Oeschger event 19 (72.1 ka) and 27 ppm increase in CO2 during late MIS 4 (Heinrich Stadial 6, ~63.5-60 ka) involved additions of isotopically light carbon to the atmosphere. The terrestrial biosphere and Southern Ocean air-sea gas exchange are possible sources, with the latter event also involving decreased ocean carbon storage.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33166-3
ISSN:	2041-1723
Date made live:	20 Sep 2022 10:46 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533234

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