Late Pleistocene charcoal in tropical Atlantic deep-sea sediments: Climatic and geochemical significance

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 1996 Late Pleistocene charcoal in tropical Atlantic deep-sea sediments: Climatic and geochemical significance David J. Verardo; David J. Verardo 1Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar William F. Ruddiman William F. Ruddiman 1Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information David J. Verardo 1Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 William F. Ruddiman 1Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1996) 24 (9): 855–857. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0855:LPCITA>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation David J. Verardo, William F. Ruddiman; Late Pleistocene charcoal in tropical Atlantic deep-sea sediments: Climatic and geochemical significance. Geology 1996;; 24 (9): 855–857. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0855:LPCITA>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Charcoal in late Pleistocene marine sediments of the tropical Atlantic was measured to examine the regional history of charcoal deposition as it relates to biomass burning on adjacent continents and carbon sequestration in the ocean. Detailed analysis (∼ 1.0 k.y. resolution) of a deep-sea core from the eastern tropical Atlantic Ocean reveals that charcoal from Africa is a significant component of total organic carbon sedimentation during glacial intervals of the past 200000 yr. These findings alter previous assumptions as to the character of carbon deposition in this region and reduce previous estimates of marine organic carbon burial fluxes by 50%. Furthermore, the tempo of charcoal deposition is mainly linked to the growth and decay of high-latitude ice sheets and appears to be caused by changes in wind strength or direction during glacial time. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.