Abstract
We use the carbon isotopic composition of sedimentary organic matter from marine cores as a proxy for paleoproductivity and paleo-dissolved carbon dioxide concentrations in surface waters of the Southern Ocean during the last 50,000 years. For the Holocene period, paleo-pCO 2 reconstructions between 44° and 55°S reflect the preindustrial values (270 μatm) and are in the variation range of modern ones. During the glaciation and deglaciation periods, pCO 2 was 50 to 100 μatm higher in surface water than in the atmosphere as recorded in the Vostok ice core. This suggests that the Southern Indian Ocean could have been a potential source of CO 2 for the glacial and deglacial atmosphere. These results, plus those of sedimentary organic carbon content suggest that the biological pump was off and unable to lower atmospheric CO 2 concentration. This indicates that a winter ice covered ocean and stratification of summer surface water caused a reduction of gas exchange with the atmosphere during that period.
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