The role of diatoms, dissolved silicate and Antarctic glaciation in glacial/interglacial climatic change: a hypothesis

Abstract

A new theory is proposed to explain global cooling at the onset of Pleistocene glacial periods. Atmospheric CO 2 drawdown is considered to be the driving force behind global cooling, brought about by heightened productivity at the equatorial divergences and along continental margins, particularly in upwelling regions. Eutrophication appears to be triggered when global warming during late interglacial periods causes accelerated melting of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. This would release large reserves of silicate-enriched subglacial meltwaters into the surrounding oceans where entrainment would take place into deep and intermediate currents forming in Antarctic and subantarctic waters. Subsequent advection, mixing and upwelling of silicate-enriched deep and intermediate waters into the coastal zones and open-ocean divergences results in the proliferation of large, rapidly-sinking diatom species with a high affinity for dissolved silicate. These blooms enhance rates of recycling of N and P in upwelling regions and accelerate rates of organic carbon production, export and sequestration in shelf and slope sediments and in the deep sea. The resultant atm. CO 2 drawdown initiates global cooling. Consequent expansion of Northern Hemisphere glaciers lowers sea level, while increased temperature and pressure gradients between equatorial and polar regions intensify meridional winds. The former process exposes nutrient-enriched coastal sediments to wave erosion, thereby releasing new nutrient supplies, while the latter process enhances upwelling. The combined effect is to greatly increase rates of org. C production and export from continental margins and further accelerate atm. CO 2 drawdown. Glacial-period cooling is also enhanced by a number of other positive feedbacks, including changes in albedo, water vapour and cloud cover. Episodic warming intervals during glacial periods may be related to insolation changes associated with orbital precession and tilt cycles, but processes involved in deglaciation and reversion to the interglacial climatic regime are complex and not yet fully understood.