A reconstruction of atmospheric carbon dioxide and its stable carbon isotopic composition from the penultimate glacial maximum to the last glacial inception
The reconstruction of the stable carbon isotope evolution in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> (δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>atm</sub>), as archived in Antarctic ice cores, bears the potential to disentangle the contributions of the different carbon cycle fluxes c...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2013-11-01
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| Series: | Climate of the Past |
| Online Access: | http://www.clim-past.net/9/2507/2013/cp-9-2507-2013.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818935728947593216 |
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| author | R. Schneider J. Schmitt P. Köhler F. Joos H. Fischer |
| author_facet | R. Schneider J. Schmitt P. Köhler F. Joos H. Fischer |
| author_sort | R. Schneider |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The reconstruction of the stable carbon isotope evolution in
atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> (δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>atm</sub>), as archived in
Antarctic ice cores, bears the potential to disentangle the
contributions of the different carbon cycle fluxes causing past
CO<sub>2</sub> variations. Here we present a new record of
δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>atm</sub> before, during and after the Marine
Isotope Stage 5.5 (155 000 to 105 000 yr BP). The dataset is archived on the data repository PANGEA® (<a href="http://www.pangea.de">www.pangea.de</a>) under <a href="http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.817041">10.1594/PANGAEA.817041</a>. The record was
derived with a well established sublimation method using ice from
the EPICA Dome C (EDC) and the Talos Dome ice cores in East
Antarctica. We find a 0.4‰ shift to heavier values between
the mean
δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>atm</sub> level in the Penultimate (~ 140 000 yr BP)
and Last Glacial Maximum (~ 22 000 yr BP), which can
be explained by either (i) changes in the isotopic composition or
(ii) intensity of the carbon input fluxes to the combined
ocean/atmosphere carbon reservoir or (iii) by long-term peat
buildup. Our isotopic data suggest that the carbon cycle evolution
along Termination II and the subsequent interglacial was controlled
by essentially the same processes as during the last 24 000 yr, but
with different phasing and magnitudes. Furthermore, a 5000 yr lag in
the CO<sub>2</sub> decline relative to EDC temperatures is confirmed
during the glacial inception at the end of MIS5.5 (120 000 yr BP). Based on our isotopic data this lag can be explained by
terrestrial carbon release and carbonate compensation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:24:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a07b4026df14f9580c304fd45711495 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1814-9324 1814-9332 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T05:24:47Z |
| publishDate | 2013-11-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Climate of the Past |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a07b4026df14f9580c304fd457114952022-12-21T19:51:55ZengCopernicus PublicationsClimate of the Past1814-93241814-93322013-11-01962507252310.5194/cp-9-2507-2013A reconstruction of atmospheric carbon dioxide and its stable carbon isotopic composition from the penultimate glacial maximum to the last glacial inceptionR. Schneider0J. Schmitt1P. Köhler2F. Joos3H. Fischer4Climate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandClimate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandAlfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI), P.O. Box 12 01 61, 27515 Bremerhaven, GermanyClimate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandClimate and Environmental Physics, Physics Institute, University of Bern, Sidlerstrasse 5, 3012 Bern, SwitzerlandThe reconstruction of the stable carbon isotope evolution in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> (δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>atm</sub>), as archived in Antarctic ice cores, bears the potential to disentangle the contributions of the different carbon cycle fluxes causing past CO<sub>2</sub> variations. Here we present a new record of δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>atm</sub> before, during and after the Marine Isotope Stage 5.5 (155 000 to 105 000 yr BP). The dataset is archived on the data repository PANGEA® (<a href="http://www.pangea.de">www.pangea.de</a>) under <a href="http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.817041">10.1594/PANGAEA.817041</a>. The record was derived with a well established sublimation method using ice from the EPICA Dome C (EDC) and the Talos Dome ice cores in East Antarctica. We find a 0.4‰ shift to heavier values between the mean δ<sup>13</sup>C<sub>atm</sub> level in the Penultimate (~ 140 000 yr BP) and Last Glacial Maximum (~ 22 000 yr BP), which can be explained by either (i) changes in the isotopic composition or (ii) intensity of the carbon input fluxes to the combined ocean/atmosphere carbon reservoir or (iii) by long-term peat buildup. Our isotopic data suggest that the carbon cycle evolution along Termination II and the subsequent interglacial was controlled by essentially the same processes as during the last 24 000 yr, but with different phasing and magnitudes. Furthermore, a 5000 yr lag in the CO<sub>2</sub> decline relative to EDC temperatures is confirmed during the glacial inception at the end of MIS5.5 (120 000 yr BP). Based on our isotopic data this lag can be explained by terrestrial carbon release and carbonate compensation.http://www.clim-past.net/9/2507/2013/cp-9-2507-2013.pdf |
| spellingShingle | R. Schneider J. Schmitt P. Köhler F. Joos H. Fischer A reconstruction of atmospheric carbon dioxide and its stable carbon isotopic composition from the penultimate glacial maximum to the last glacial inception Climate of the Past |
| title | A reconstruction of atmospheric carbon dioxide and its stable carbon isotopic composition from the penultimate glacial maximum to the last glacial inception |
| title_full | A reconstruction of atmospheric carbon dioxide and its stable carbon isotopic composition from the penultimate glacial maximum to the last glacial inception |
| title_fullStr | A reconstruction of atmospheric carbon dioxide and its stable carbon isotopic composition from the penultimate glacial maximum to the last glacial inception |
| title_full_unstemmed | A reconstruction of atmospheric carbon dioxide and its stable carbon isotopic composition from the penultimate glacial maximum to the last glacial inception |
| title_short | A reconstruction of atmospheric carbon dioxide and its stable carbon isotopic composition from the penultimate glacial maximum to the last glacial inception |
| title_sort | reconstruction of atmospheric carbon dioxide and its stable carbon isotopic composition from the penultimate glacial maximum to the last glacial inception |
| url | http://www.clim-past.net/9/2507/2013/cp-9-2507-2013.pdf |
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