Research article
03 Jan 2012
Research article | 03 Jan 2012
Ventilation changes in the western North Pacific since the last glacial period
Y. Okazaki1, T. Sagawa2, H. Asahi3, K. Horikawa4, and J. Onodera1
Y. Okazaki et al.
Y. Okazaki1, T. Sagawa2, H. Asahi3, K. Horikawa4, and J. Onodera1
- 1Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Japan
- 2Senior Research Fellow Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
- 3Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
- 4Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
- 1Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Japan
- 2Senior Research Fellow Center, Ehime University, Matsuyama, Japan
- 3Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Japan
- 4Graduate School of Science and Engineering, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
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Received: 05 Aug 2011 – Discussion started: 18 Aug 2011 – Revised: 11 Nov 2011 – Accepted: 20 Nov 2011 – Published: 03 Jan 2012
Abstract. We reconstructed the ventilation record of deep water at 2100 m depth in the mid-latitude western North Pacific over the past 25 kyr from radiocarbon measurements of coexisting planktic and benthic foraminiferal shells in sediment with a high sedimentation rate. The 14C data on fragile and robust planktic foraminiferal shells were concordant with each other, ensuring high quality of the reconstructed ventilation record. The radiocarbon activity changes were consistent with the atmospheric record, suggesting that no massive mixing of old carbon from the abyssal reservoir occurred throughout the glacial to deglacial periods.
